Regan Bayliss and Faatinah return to scale after winning the Listed Carlyon Stakes (Racing Photos)
Is Faatinah – Arabic for ‘captivating’ – poised to capture his first Group One victory in the AJ Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on 28 September?
Good question, but trainer David Hayes clearly believes the Nicconi flyer has a rock solid chance and the 6YO certainly was captivating in Saturday’s Listed SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes over 1000m – the Moir distance – at Moonee Valley.
Having his first run since March, when finishing midfield in Dubai’s Group One Al Quoz Sprint, Faatinah produced a blistering performance to capture his third stakes victory, adding to a Group Two Euclase Stakes and Bobbie Lewis Handicap and second behind Sheidel in last year’s Group One Oakleigh Plate.
All up, Faatinah has won six from 26 (with eight placings) for $815,346 in stakes.
“I reckon he’s a better horse than he was this time last year,” Hayes enthused. “He’s never worked better in his life than he was going into the (Carlyon).
Faatinah raced in last year’s Moir, first up, eventually finishing sixth behind She Will Reign.
The Carlyon victory also continues the golden run for Shadwell Stud, which bred and races Faatinah, and the Lindsay Park Racing operation.
“Shadwell has had phenomenal success in Australia and the association with the stable dates back to 1986 with Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq and again eight years later with Jeune, both of which went on to become influential sires,” Lindsay Park Racing’s Jenny McAlpine points out. “Horses like Fraar and Tawqeet won Caulfield Cups too, but the Shadwell horses bred in Australia have been hugely successful as well with the likes of Blue Diamond winners Reann and Nadeem.
“In fact, last season the Shadwell/Lindsay Park combination had 17 individual 2YO winners, with five of them winning stakes races, including Debutant winner Qafila.
“It’s definitely a good start to 2018/19 and fingers crossed Faatinah gets his Group One next month.”
Faatinah is out of the winning Danehill mare, Alqwah who has produced four winners from six to race, including the Group placed 2YO, Jalsah, while other relations include New Zealand Horse of the Year and triple Group One winner, King’s Chapel.
Shadwell has also had a lengthy (and fruitful) relationship with Yarraman Park Stud which cares for around 25 of Shadwell’s mares. After foaling down and raising the resultant foals from the Hunter Valley base, a good number are ultimately dispatched to Lindsay Park, but several are also exported to South Africa annually and include recently named Champion 2YO colt, Soqrat.
Meanwhile, Faatinah is one of 17 stakes winners for Widden Stud’s Group One winning sprinter, Nicconi, who has four wins and a third from his last seven black type runners, including Nature Strip and last week’s Group Three Vain Stakes winner, Tony Nicconi.
