Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred pacer Mr Fantastic has abundant ability, but he is still giving his trainer Justin Prentice plenty of headaches.
The five-year-old, unplaced at his three previous outings, gave a sample of his class at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was not extended in setting a fast pace and romping to victory in the 1730m Broome Cup Winner Pace.
The $1.30 favourite gave Gary Hall Jnr his fifth winner on the night when he defied an early challenge from Beat City ($13) and went on to defeat the $5.50 second fancy Whats Up Sunshine, who trailed the pacemaker throughout.
The win at a 1.55.3 rate was Mr Fantastic’s ninth success from 22 starts in Western Australia, after he had won at four of his eleven New Zealand starts.
However, Prentice is far from entirely satisfied with his performances, saying: “He hasn’t lived up to expectations. His work at home suggests that he should be even better. He works with Mighty Ronaldo, and there’s nothing between them.
“I thought that in bigger races, his turn of foot would be his biggest asset. But it just hasn’t turned out that way. When he gets back in the field, he loses interest.
“His two latest wins have been when he has set the pace, and he has done it so easily. It’s definitely a mental thing. He has had his issues in the past, and he is a pretty intelligent horse, so maybe he just looks after himself when he is back in the field.
“When he is in front, he can run such good times; he can just do it on the bit. With more racing we will see if we can change his mental attitude. Hopefully, one day things will click.”
Mr Fantastic is by Bettors Delight and is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Its All On, who won twice from twelve starts. Mr Fantastic’s elder full-sister Bettor Get It On has recently retired after having 51 starts for 11 wins, 14 seconds and five thirds for earnings of $191,675. Her victories included the 2022 Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park.