Not too long ago the Gangemi brothers were contemplating retirement for their stable warhorse Phanta.
The eight year old son of Gingerbread Man hadn't won a race in two years, and has always needed careful management with his feet. Not since his HG Bolton / Belmont Newmarket double of 2023 had Phanta tasted success.
That all changed yesterday when the gelding pulled out a determined performance to claim his second Listed Belmont Newmarket - his third stakes win overall - and give his jockey Brad Parnham a timely birthday celebration!
Due to an atrocious weather forecast and the need to protect Belmont's new turf, the Newmarket meeting was moved south to Pinjarra and did avoid the worst of the rain, officially racing on a soft 6.
The contest was much diminished by the scratching on race morning of the HG Bolton winner and red hot favourite The Wind And The Lion (Written By).
Also scratched were Rockin Rupert (Winning Rupert) and Saloon Bar (Sessions) leaving a field of nine to brave the wintry conditions for the 1200m Quality Handicap, first run in 1945.
Punters pinned their hopes on Luke Fernie's talented and lightly raced 5YO Stormchaser (Impending) - resuming and boasting a great first up record.
However, a leaders track bias on the day saw significant late support for Fast Flicker (A Lot).
The six year old mare was also resuming from a spell and was well weighted on 54kg, having run a great second to sprint star The Boss Lady at Pinjarra last prep.
Equal topweights Phanta and Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) carried 59kg and were easy in the market.
The Williams trained Fluro Neuro, another by Gingerbread Man was also resuming and naturally kept safe as a representative of the state's leading stable.
The genuine customer had played second fiddle to Watch Me Rock in the Autumn but loomed as a chance here with his liking for soft tracks and ability to sprint well fresh.
Gemma's Son (Snippetson) and Puli ( Dick Turpin) were a couple of veterans still racing in good form with the latter a noted mudlark and leader, while talented Nicconi mare Petula had her fans.
On jumping Puli scooted to the lead as expected and flew over his preferred surface, setting a cracking pace. Phanta settled comfortably behind him for the trail with Ghost Who Walks and Man Crush in attendance.
Puli was pouring on the speed and stole a break on all but Phanta, who stuck to his tail like a burr.
Approaching the home turn Fast Flicker was swinging wide looking for better ground while Puli gave a good kick and tried to shake the tag of Phanta, but no luck! His tough rival kept coming and soon had Puli's measure. Fluro Neuro and Stormchaser were steaming home from the rear but too late - Phanta and Brad Parnham had gone clear.
Phanta won by a length on the line from Fluro Neuro - a bridesmaid again! - giving Yarradale Stud's Gingerbread Man a feature quinella.
Stormchaser was a close and credible third with conditions against, Puli hung on bravely for fourth and Fast Flicker finished fifth.
Phanta now boasts a record of 29 starts for 8-8-1 and $583,195 in stakes, and may have put talk of retirement aside for a while yet!
Phanta's second Belmont Newmarket victory continues the Gangemi stable's recent domination of the sprint feature, which is the first stakes race of the new season.
Gangemi-trained gallopers to win before Phanta in 25 / 2023 were Nerodio in 2022, Samizdat in 2021, Saracino in 2020 and Super Maxi in 2018.
Chris Gangemi was full of praise for Phanta after the race.
“He’s been a champion for us. We've tried him at Ascot a few times but the track really doesn't suit him at all," he said.
"He has won a lot of his races by just running them into the ground. It suited him today to be up on speed with that strong tempo, and to take off when he did. It was a really good win with 59 today, and we're really proud of him.”
Phanta was a $5,000 yearling when purchased by Justin Warwick at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions Book 2 from the draft of Scenic Lodge.
He raced a handful of times and won for Justin before being sold to clients of the Gangemi stable.
Phanta is one of only three foals from the unraced Dubai Destination mare Dubi Dubi Do, all of whom raced.
Phanta's full sister Ginger Flyer was also a talent winning eight races and $349,245.
Their dam Just Friends by speed sire Snaadee was bred by Emirates Park in Victoria and her three to race were all winners. Just Friends was bred 3m x 4f to Canadian Blue Hen Ciboulette through her daughters the three quarter sisters Fanfreluche and Somfas.
Phanta's third dam was the very good filly Not Related. This daughter of Family Ties won the G1 VRC Sires Produce Stakes and three G3 races, and was a 12 times winner in all. She was the only stakes winner from her dam Kisaki by Mikado, a son of the great Matrice.
Not Related's unraced half sister Toneya (Blazing Saddles) produced stakes placed Ashenti who became dam of the durable G2 winning sprinter Riva De Lago.
Phanta is bred to
Mr Prospector 5m x 4m
His sire Gingerbread Man by the mighty Shamardal was Champion 2YO and 3YO in Singapore where he won five Group races as a sprinter miler.
Gingerbread Man's third dam Spyglass was a G1 winner at two miles in NZ. She became dam of the well named G1 Epsom Hcp winner Iron Horse who placed in that race twice, as well as placing in a Doncaster and Caulfield Cup - and half brother Specular who became a champion jumper. Over this stout Kiwi damline Gingerbread Man carries the speed of Snippets and Hurricane Sky with the pure class of Shamardal.
Notably Gingerbread Man descends from Miss Diable who was bred 3f x 3m to one of NZ's all time great broodmare sires Beau Pere, son of the matriarch Cinna - while Beau Pere's half brother Balloch sired Phanta's ancestress Kitty Balloch.
Phanta's damsire Dubai Destination by Kingmambo far exceeded his prowess as a good sire by becoming a really excellent broodmare sire of the likes of G1 winners Thunder Snow, Golden Horn, Postponed, Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip and Silent Sedition to name just a handful.
Gingerbread Man stands at Yarradale Stud on a fee of $5,500 in 2025.
