Phantom Fab on Debut

After capping two seconds with a smart win at the trials, Phantom Witness (3 g Star Witness - Fandom, by Rock of Gibraltar) followed suit with a debut victory in the Trevor Da Cruz Racing and Stable Books $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres on 7 January at Matamata.

Although not an easy ride in front for Opie Bosson, Phantom Witness put a winning break on his rivals at the 300m and remained strong to the line.

“He's got a lovely action, but still a lot to learn and we might need to change the bit on him next time,” Bosson said. 

On Dead4 footing, Phantom Witness delivered as a favourite should to return $2.20 & $1.10, following a good gallop in 1:10.5 for the 1200 metres and last 600m in 34.9. 

Owned by the Te Akau Phantom Witness Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm.

“Mark Walker and I were in the middle of inspecting yearlings and we stopped to watch Phantom Witness in the main pavilion,” said Ellis, from the Gold Coast Yearling Sales. 

“It was a huge thrill to see a horse we bought at the Ready to Run Sale win at his first start. He was a little bit green, but he will take plenty of experience from the race. It was a hell of a performance to cross and lead from a wide barrier.

“He's a strong and imposing horse and we really did get him for a great price.”

The win by Phantom Witness continued a terrific run for premiership leading trainer Jamie Richards, with 29 wins in five weeks, at a strike of 3.2, and 66 wins overall this season. 

A naturally athletic type, Phantom Witness is by Star Witness (Starcraft), a Group One winner over 1200 metres, while his dam, Fandom (Rock of Gibraltar), won twice to 1200 metres. He has a strong pedigree, with a Danehill cross on the dam side of Star Witness and as the sire of Rock of Gibraltar. 

“It was a good win by a promising horse,” Richards said. “Probably not the right way to ride him, but Opie (Bosson) summed it up well and got him to relax enough. At the moment, he's one of those horses that wants to do things quickly and next time when we ride him with cover he should settle better.

“I thought he won with a bit of petrol in the tank and Dave (Ellis) has bought some good horses from the Ready to Run Sale. Gingernuts, of course, Hall of Fame, Te Akau Shark, and more recently Star of Bombay has shown above average ability. There has been quite a few of them. 

“This horse has taken a while to come to it, as some of them do, but he's away now with a first-up win and it looks as though he'll only improve.”

Phantom Witness was strapped Trevor Stewart.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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