Phanta scaled a career high at Belmont two weeks ago and co-trainer Michael Gangemi is warming to the idea of him winning his second consecutive Listed race on the weekend.
Phanta was an explosive winner of the Bolton Sprint (1200m) first up and is popular with punters to deliver the same result in Saturday’s Belmont Newmarket (1200m).
“We’ve put a lot of work into his feet and it’s full steam ahead to Saturday,” Michael Gangemi said.
“We know with this horse if his feet are right he is going to be competitive at stakes level.
“We’ve worked out a formula that works and hopefully that backs up again this week.
“We’re very, very happy with him and confident he will be competitive again.”
Phanta commenced his career under the guidance of former Perth trainer Justin Warwick who paid $5000 for the gelding at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions.
The son of Gingerbread Man won one race for Warwick and was then sent to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in Sydney, but didn’t make it to the races before joining the Gangemi brothers.
As a six-year-old, Phanta has won six races and ran second five times from 16 starts for prizemoney and bonuses netting $407,420.
Phanta is the $2.75 Tabtouch favourite to win the Belmont Newmarket, holding market lead over Nerodio ($5) Bitofmerit ($5.50), Panzdown ($6) and Notorious One ($9).
A long time away from the winner’s list, Notorious resumes after a winter campaign in the Belmont Sprint (1400m), Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Strickland Stakes (2000m).
“He was going to trial on Monday and as long as he’s running on at the end of it he’ll be perfect for the 1300m of the Idyllic Prince Stakes in two weeks,” Gangemi said.
“If he runs in the money we’ll be stoked.”
Notorious One will commence from barrier one for jockey, Jordan Turner.
Phanta has drawn barrier seven, Brad Parnham retains the mount.
