Ambitions high for Fasika after Wenona win

Fasika is working her way towards Group One level after a winning return at Randwick.

Trainer Joe Pride was a nervous wreck but he was feeling a lot better after Fasika raced away with her maiden Group success.

The promising mare justified her $2.30 favouritism, bounding clear to take out Saturday’s Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick by a length over I Am Excited ($10) , who closed late with Resin ($8) another short neck away.

Pride said he had not felt as anxious before a race since two-time Group One winner Terravista was coming through the grades.

“The last time I felt that bad was when Terravista resumed here after his first start as a four-year-old and I was watching the race thinking, “I think this is the best horse I’ve ever had’ but he was in a midweeker and it was a strange sort of feeling,” Pride said.

“She’s an exciting mare and there is plenty of upside with her.”

Pride’s pre-race anxiety was a sign of the regard in which he holds Fasika, who has now won four of her seven starts and is being considered for one of Australia’s best sprint races.

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While Pride plans to keep an open mind with Fasika this autumn, he admits the Group One All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next month is on the radar.

“My early instinct, and I’ve had a couple of options in my mind , is to go three weeks into the Star Kingdom and then three weeks here into the All-Aged,” Pride said.

“But nothing is set in stone and we’ll see how she pulls up.

“She was getting that run to suit just perfectly. I couldn’t believe when Spiritual Pursuit missed the start and really got handed to us.

I thought there was a couple of negative rides from some of the others and Brenton (Avdulla) just rated our mare perfectly.

“She had a few favours there but she gave a really good kick and gives me every indication she is back for a good prep.”