A stakes-winner at two, talented Pride of Dubai four year-old Fancy Man looks set for further success in 2022 after returning to win the Listed Winter Derby Trial (10f) at Lingfield on Saturday.
Trained by Richard Hannon, Fancy Man powered clear of his rivals to win by more than two lengths taking his overall record to four wins and five placings from 10 starts.
Bought for just 30,000 euros at the Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling, Fancy Man has bigger goals ahead.
“That was Fancy Man’s first run for a long time and he would have needed it,” Richard Hannon explained.
“We took him to Kempton last week and he worked very well, so we decided to give him a run here to hopefully build him up for either the Winter Derby or the Amir Trophy in Qatar.
“There was a frustrating period with the horse when we were not sure trip-wise. He would arrive there on the bridle but wouldn’t go and win the race--or couldn’t--but he looks like he is over that now.
“At the moment, the first preference is to go to Qatar and the horse is due to fly out there on Friday week. The race is worth a lot of money and the horse is in great shape.”.
Fancy Man is the best of two winners from unraced Galileo mare Fancy, a daughter of stakes-winning Danehill Dancer mare Danehill Music.
He has an interesting pedigree carrying double crosses of Danehill and also Sadler’s Wells.
Fancy Man is one of 13 stakes-winners for Pride of Dubai, who has 15 entries for Inglis Classic.
