She's No Fake!

Justifying favouritism, Fay Khan It (4 m Mongolian Khan - Morgan Le Fay, by Golan) won the $14,000 Mount New World Maiden High-weight 1600 metres on 24 May at Tauranga.

After closing nicely for third on Heavy10 in the Maiden 1600 metres on 14 May at Matamata, Fay Khan It struck similar conditions, benefitted by weight relief to 64kg, and brought the right form to rate a top three chance.

Ridden by jumps' jockey and stable track work rider Michael Roustoby, Fay Khan It capitalised on an inside passage to travel best and lead turning for home, and had no real concerns when stretching out nicely over the concluding stages.

“The owners have been very patient and it was a lovely ride by Michael (Roustoby),” said trainer Mark Walker.

“He's a very valuable member of the team, one of our best track work riders, knows the mare well from gallops and track work, and it was great to see him aboard the winner too.

“It was a satisfying win, after racing well last start, and given the way she handles wet ground, she could certainly be competitive up in grade.”

On testing Heavy10 footing, Fay Khan It ran 1600 metres in 1:48.8 and paid $2.40 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Owned by Fay Khan It Syndicate, she displayed potential in her first trial when stretching out for third as a three-year-old at Ellerslie, improved on a solid debut sixth at Taupo, finishing third to subsequent Group One winning stable-mate Romancing The Moon (El Roca), and following two recent thirds, she was able to break through at her seventh start. 

“She's from a Golan mare and some of his progeny have handled wet ground,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“She's still developing, is from a good family, and has the pedigree to appreciate further.

“It's great to reward Michael (Roustoby) with a win. He's as genuine and hard working guy as you'd ever meet and he's going to make a great stable foreman and trainer in his own right, going forward.”

A day earlier, Ellis purchased three-year-old filly Wolverine (Tivaci) as a racing and breeding prospect at the 2023 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

“It's pretty exciting to have bought a filly of her quality and we've already sold 60% of her,” Ellis said.

“We knew her well as a two-year-old here in New Zealand, when trained by Roydon Bergerson, and she finished second when we won the Karaka Million 2YO with Dynastic and second again when Maven Belle won the Sires' Produce Stakes. 

“She's always had plenty of ability and continued that form from the Kris Lees stable in Newcastle (NSW), placing six times this season in Group & Listed races.

“We'll bring her home and we plan on taking her to Melbourne for some nice Group One races.

“She's developed into a beautiful specimen and it's very rare that fillies of her quality, that still have a big future on the race track, come up for sale. 

“Her third dam Critic (Centaine), bred and owned by Waikato Stud, was a really good filly and mare that won at Group One level, and subsequent dam sires are Zabeel and O'Reilly and you can't beat having them on you dam side.

“Plus, she's by a sire son (Tivaci) of High Chaparral that has already produced a Group One winner.”

Fay Khan It was strapped by Ashley Handley. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz