Mr Fantastic (NZ) Lives up to his Name
8 August 2022
Mr Fantastic (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) lived up to his name and continued his outstanding form in Western Australia with victory in the Group Three John Higgins Memorial Final (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The NZB Standardbred graduate broke through for his first success at stakes level when leading home a wave of New Zealand-breds who filled the first five placings in the feature event.
Mr Fantastic was purchased by Steven Reid for $62,500 out of the Woodlands Stud draft at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
The pacer clashed with New Zealand’s best two and three-year-olds when he was prepared by Reid and training partner Simon McMullen in New Zealand.
After winning four of just twelve starts, Mr Fantastic was sold to clients of leading Perth trainer Justin Prentice, who have not had to wait long for him to show his class on Western Australian racetracks.
Superior stamina saw the four-year-old win his sixth race in just his tenth start across the Tasman when taking out the John Higgins Memorial Final.
After settling in midfield, driver Gary Hall Jnr made an early move in the blacktype event, to sit parked with Mr Fantastic. Working outside the leader took little toll on the kiwi import who powered away from his rivals to score an impressive win.
“I was a bit worried that there might have been a swooper, but Mr Fantastic fought them off good,” Justin Prentice said.
Mr Fantastic’s rapid rise through the grades across the Tasman has earned him a tilt at a couple of lucrative Gloucester Park targets.
Prentice plans to aim the horse at the Group One A$125 Four-Year-Old Classic and the Group One A$200,000 Golden Nugget.
“He will be set for the big races for four-year-olds in December.”
Woodlands Stud prepared and offered a full sister to Mr Fantastic at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Karaka (Lot 62). The Bettor’s Delight filly out of Its All On (NZ) (Art Major) was purchased by Jean Feiss.
| Consignor | Woodlands Stud |
| Purchaser | Mr SJ Reid |
| Breeding | Bettor’s Delight x Its All On |
| Sale | 2019 Auckland Yearling Sale, $62,500 |
| Bred by | Dr P J A Stegehuis |