Five-year-old mare Fanatic joined the Lindsay Park team after winning just three of her 21 starts in New Zealand but one of those was a defeat of Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.
It took her six starts to break her duck in Australia, which came on Melbourne Cup day, before making it two consecutive wins for the first time in her career in Saturday's $150,000 Listed Ladbrokes Sandown Cup (3200m).
Settled back to near the rear of the six-horse field by Michael Walker as Luke Currie sent Darabad (FRA) out to a big lead, Fanatic moved into a challenging position on the turn.
After a short battle with Swacadelic(GER), Fanatic won by a long-neck with the short-priced favourite Gallic Chieftain (FR) a length and a quarter back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer)
"It's taken and a while to work her out but we're very comfortable with her now," co-trainer David Hayes said.
"We will probably look to a race like the Adelaide Cup and maybe go to Sydney.
"She doesn't like wet tracks, a kiwi that doesn't like wet tracks, that's my luck.
"It was a mighty staying effort. Full compliments to Michael Walker he rode Almoonqith the same. She's a mare that you have to take runs. She doesn't like being exposed too far from home and he got it right.
The daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking advances her record to 5 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $397,496.
A homebred for Sean Kiernan, Fanatic is the fifth foal of the winning Groom Dancer mare Komplete Klass who is a half-sister to stakes-placed Komplete Kaos (Desert Sun) who is the dam of the Group I TJ Smith Classic winner Rockdale (Danroad).
The sixth and final foal of Komplete Klass is a 3yo Pour Moi (IRE) filly named Salient.
A dual Group 1 winning son of champion sire Street Cry (IRE), Shocking stands the 2017 season at Rich Hill Stud at a fee of $12,500.
