The Gingerbread Man 5yo Phanta went straight to the front under a minimum of urging by Brad Parnham and ran the opposition into the ground in Saturday’s Listed HG Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont Park.
Trained by Chris and Michael Gangemi, Phanta came off a second in the Listed Scenic Blast Stakes on January 28, his first start since Listed Farnley Stakes last September.
Panzdown (Panzer Division) chased hard but could get no closer than a length and a half on the line, with Western Temple (Dream Ahead) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
With his maiden stakes success, Phanta advances his record to six wins and five seconds from 16 starts with earnings of $360,620.
He had won one and was runner-up twice for Justin Warwick before being purchased by clients of the Gangemis.
“I think he only had five starts when we bought him. We liked him a lot, and I think we got him for 80 or 100 (thousand),” Michael Gangemi said.
“We were hoping he could get to this level. The first half dozen starts for us; I thought he could win a stakes or two. He has done that now so hopefully, he can go on with it.
“He has bad feet so starting on hard tracks is not ideal.
“I was super confident today because he has had a faultless prep. He is the best he has ever been and raced accordingly.
“He was a bit tired late because he was first-up, but he is just a really good tough horse.
“He can go to the Newmarket in three weeks, then hopefully the Farnley”.
Justin Warwick bought Phanta for $5,000 from the Scenic Lodge draft from Book 2 of the 2019 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
He is a brother to eight-time winner and $333,000 earner Ginger Flyer out of the unraced Dubai Destination mare Dubi Dubi Do.
The last foal of Dubi Dubi Do is the 4yo Dash For Cash mare Dashfordollars.
Phanta is the seventh stakes-winner for Gingerbread Man (Shamardal), who stands at Yarradale Stud for $5,500.
