Under an inspired ride by Michael Walker, race favourite Fanatic rounded out a wonderful weekend for the team at Lindsay Park when she claimed the Group II Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.
Settled back midfield on the fence by Walker, Fanatic followed Australian Bloodstock's import Ormito (GER) in the run, but when Craig Williams played the percentages and eased Ormito (GER) to the outside on the turn, Walker stuck to the fence where it all opened up.
The daughter of Shocking found herself three in front with 300 metres to go but Ormito (GER) was not done yet.
He made a short-sharp sprint making up two lengths in the blink of an eye but gained just a further three-quarters of a length over the winner in final two hundred metres.
Fanatic went to the line strongly to defeat Ormito (GER) (Mamool) by a neck with Poppiholla (Pentire) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
"Ben, Tom and Dave had her peaked for this run," Walker said
"She had three runs that were all a pass without being outstanding.
"I couldn't have asked for a better run, I never left the fence. I followed the second horse because I thought he would be hard to beat and when he left the fence I took the fence.
"I could see 1400 metres out I could see the leader was hanging out the entire race so I knew I was going to get there.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said Fanatic was now likely to go to Sydney for the $2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200) at Randwick on April 14.
"I can't believe the run opened up like it did. He didn't go around one horse," Hayes, who trains Fanatic in partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Dabernig, said.
"Everything went to plan and the run's opened at the right time.
"She's definitely headed to Sydney.
"Once this gets horse gets over 2800(m)-plus, she's at the elite level."
The five-year-old mare joined the Lindsay Park team after winning just three of her 21 starts in New Zealand but one of those was a defeat of Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.
It took her six starts to break her duck in Australia, which approximately enough came on Melbourne Cup day, before making it two consecutive wins in the $150,000 Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) last November (photo Darryl Sherer).
The daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking advances her record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $686,746.
A homebred for Sean Kiernan, Fanatic is the fifth foal of the winning Groom Dancer mare Komplete Klass who is a half-sister to stakes-placed Komplete Kaos (Desert Sun) who is the dam of the Group I TJ Smith Classic winner Rockdale (Danroad).
The sixth and final foal of Komplete Klass is a 3yo Pour Moi (IRE) filly named Salient.
A dual Group 1 winning son of champion sire Street Cry (IRE), Shocking stood the 2017 season at Rich Hill Stud at a fee of $12,500.
