OWNER and trainer Robert Ffrench gave himself a belated birthday present when he saddled She’s Fantastic to win the opening event on Saturday’s (January 6, 2024) nine-race card.

Ffrench, who turned 62 on Friday (January 5, 2024), watched as his five-year-old dark bay mare She’s Fantastic made one move in a native-bred, five-year-old and upward (non-winners of three) and imported five-year-old and upward (non-winners of two), travelling 6½ furlongs by 4¾ lengths.

With Christopher Mamdeen in the saddle She’s Fantastic surged to the front at the off and held the lead ahead of Zion’s Princess (Roger Hewitt), AKA Storm (Samantha Fletcher), and Babylon Will Fall (Ramon Nepare) down the backstretch.

She’s Fantastic upped the tempo going into the half-mile (800m) turn, and with no real challenge coming forward approaching the distance the Bern Identity offspring sprinted home to win easily. Premier Identity (Tevin Foster) finished second with Tigray Express (Dane Dawkins) getting third place.

Splits for the event were 24.1 x 47.4 x 1:14.2, with the final time recorded at 1:22.2.