FASIKA SUFFERS A SERIOUS SETBACK

By Graham Potter | Monday, August 9, 2021

Great expectations going into the Missile Stakes turned into massive disappointment after the race for connections of the Joe Pride trained Fasika, who started favourite for the Group 2 event.

Fasika finished a creditable third, less than a length behind Phobetor and Chat in the Missile Stakes, but she bled during the race and the mare thus incurs a mandatory three-month bar from racing, ruling her out of several rich and prestigious races that pride would have been targeting in the coming months.

The simple notification in the official Racing NSW steward’s report of … ‘Fasika – a post race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have bled from both nostrils for the first time. Trainer Mr J Pride was advised of the provisions of AR79(4), thus bringing an abrupt halt to any immediate plans for the well performed daughter of So You Thing.

Fasika, who won her first three career starts in a row, had progressed her record to be a five time winner from fifteen starts, including a Group 2 win in the Sapphire Stakes and a Group 3 win in the Wenona Girl Quality.

Tricolours Racing, who is part of the Fasika ownership group tweeted the following … ‘Shattered to report Fasika has bled in the Missile Stakes. Devastated for Joe Pride, his team, and all her owners. What a freak of a mare to still run 3rd.

‘She is in the best of care, and her welfare will be the highest priority going forward.’