Patience pays off with Fabrice

Waiting tactics with Fabrice were rewarded on the Hillside course at Sandown where Fabrice made a winning debut on Wednesday afternoon.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has been patient with the three-year-old and the son of Ocean Park rewarded that approach with his defeat of older opposition over 1200 metres.

“The more training he has had, the sharper he has got,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.

“He’s been a big, raw gelding who has trialled up well this time and he just keeps improving. He was quite professional today and there’s still a lot of improvement to come.”

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Fabrice stepped cleanly from the barrier to settle in behind the leader and once into the clear he rounded off strongly.

“He’s quite a nice style of horse, I haven’t had a lot to do with him but he gave me a nice feel,” rider John Allen said.

“He was always travelling well and I thought he did a very good job.”

Fabrice was purchased by Maher and Kawa Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $30,000.

He is a son of the O’Reilly mare Hokey Pokey, a granddaughter of the two-time Australian Group 2 winner Ugachaka and she is a half-sister to the G3 Manawatu Challenge Staes winner Country Rose.