Fernando Phil's Fitting Horsham Cup Success

REGALLY bred sprinter Fernando Phil has capped off his rapid rise with victory in the Group 2 Sportsbet Horsham Cup (485m) on Friday night.

And in a warming sidenote, Fernando Phil is prepared by Michelle Mallia, the only female trainer with a runner in the finale – staged on International Women's Day.

Now a winner at nine of his 25 appearances, Fernando Phil landed the $55,000-to-the-winner finale in a slick 26.95, defeating race favourite Explicit by 1 ½ lengths.

Third in the showpiece event was Nature Strip from the rails alley a further half-length away.

Fabulous, Phil

FERNANDO PHIL proved too good for his rivals in the Group 2 @sportsbetcomau #HorshamCup Final.

It was the first group win of FERNANDO PHIL's career.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/hAGe6m0YLr

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) March 8, 2024

Fernando Phil, already a two-time group 1 finalist in the Maturity Classic and Australian Cup, only received a Horsham Cup call-up from box six following the scratching of War Time Novelty.

And given the race was staged on International Women's Day, the son of Fernando Bale and former top flight sprinter Zoom Out was sure to have carried plenty of additional support of the female variety, going around at odds of $10.

Meanwhile, on a big night of racing action, the Horsham Cup Consolation (485m) went the way of Shima Current for Tom Dailly, the son of Shima Shine and Swift Current scoring by two-and-a-half lengths in a fast 26.75.