Gear change works wonders on smart filly

Talented harness racing filly Fakenit (American Ideal) is relatively inexperienced but has emerged as a leading candidate for the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday week after recent important gear changes have resulted in her sparkling form at Gloucester Park on the past three Friday nights.

“In her past she has done things wrong, and she still has things to learn, but now she is trying her best to be on her best behaviour,” said Maddison Brown after driving Fakenit to a most impressive victory in the $50,000 group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“She used to be quite revvy and she also touched a knee, and now I’m happy with the way she settled last week and again this week. Since I have been driving her (at her past three starts) she has raced with a one-legged spreader.”

At Fakenit’s second appearance after a spell in the $100,000 Westbred final three Fridays ago, she competed with several gear changes, notably an off-side one-legged spreader, a nearside Murphy blind and a rubber bit replacing a snaffle bit.

These changes have resulted in Fakenit feeling more comfortable and being more tractable. After a fast-finishing second to Its Maa Time three starts ago Fakenit has finished powerfully to win an Oaks Prelude and the Daintys Daughter Classic, beating the favourite Bettathanlife in both events.

“Since I have been driving her, she has raced with a one-legged spreader after Stuey (Stuart McDonald) recommended it,” said Brown. “So, I can’t take the credit for that. Her manners behind the (mobile) barrier were also an issue, but now I’m happy with the way she is behind the gate.”

Fakenit, the $3.80 second favourite from the No. 4 barrier, began speedily and raced three wide early to move to the breeze, with the polemarker Ruby Lovera ($4) setting the pace. Bettathanlife, the $2.45 favourite, surged forward, three wide, to assume the position in the breeze after about 500m, enabling Fakenit to enjoy an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.

Bettathanlife took a narrow lead 250m from home, and moments later Brown switched Fakenit three wide, and the filly sprinted strongly to burst to the front about 30m from the post and win by a length from Bettathanlife, with Copper Head Lady ($14) running on from sixth at the bell to finish third, a nose ahead of Ruby Lovera.

The final quarters were covered in 28.6sec. and 28.2sec. and Fakenit rated a smart 1.56.5. A week earlier she showed that she would be suited over the 2536m Oaks with her win over that distance.

“Half-way down the back straight Fakenit was travelling so well that I knew that when I eased her out, she would find another gear,” said Brown.

Fakenit gave her trainer Gary Hall snr his fourth success in the Daintys Daughter Classic, following wins with Majorly Foxy Styx in 2014, Nuala (2015) and Slick Artist (2018). Fakenit is by outstanding sire American Ideal and is out of Alta Christiano mare Fake News, who earned $177,412 from 14 wins and seven placings from 38 starts. Fakenit has raced seven times for four wins, three placings and $80,395 in prizemoney.

Gary Hall jnr, who trains and drives Bettathanlife, said that the filly was rough out of the gate before performing very well.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park