Co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi are hopeful that their latest stable acquisition can attain Group 1 status in Perth by the end of the year.
The Gangemi brothers, who have a successful record in buying tried horses, have acquired Pandemic from James Cummings and Godolphin.
The son of 2011 Golden Slipper (1200m) champion, Sepoy, Pandemic has won five races from 22 starts and close to half a million dollars in prizemoney.
Pandemic won the 2020 Listed Xmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and last year in Adelaide he placed second to Savatoxl in the G3 McKay Stakes (1100m).
Pandemic drew rave reviews at his second career start when he made the jump from a provincial mid-week maiden win to Saturday grade look easy.
He defeated Maddi Rocks and Exotic Ruby by 1 ¼ lengths and his time of 1m 02.07s, set a new Kensington 1100m track record.
Michael Gangemi said he was thrilled to have picked up Pandemic for stable clients.
“We’ve targeted him for a while and it’s taken about 12-months and a lot of persistence,” Gangemi told The Races WA
“He has Group form around him and we are super delighted to have picked him up.
“He’s completed pre-training and will come into the stable next week.
“We’ll aim him up at the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) later this year.
“He’ll get there through the Prince Of Wales (1000m) and Crawford Stakes (1100m).”
Meanwhile at Belmont on Saturday, Gangemi is confident Phanta can continue his rich vein of form and overcome a distance query.
Phanta, who has not tasted defeat in three starts this preparation, tackles the Blue Spec Stakes (1600m) from barrier 11.
The Gingerbread Man gelding, previously with Justin Warwick, has failed in two previous attempts at the mile, but Gangemi isn’t bothered.
“I know his record at 1600m is not flash, but he ran through 1400m last start with big weight and on a soft track,” Gangemi said.
“He’s thriving this campaign and we are learning a bit more about him.
“He’s been a great find for the owners and I think he is up to it.
“If he wins on Saturday he will go the Farnely Stakes (1400m) next.
“If he goes well again then he might even have a freshen up and we can look at the Ascot carnival.”
Phanta carries 56.5kg for jockey, Brad Parnham, a drop of 3kg on his last-start win two weeks ago.
The five-year-old is currently rated a $4.20 chance and sits behind Tabtouch favourite, Ginger Flyer ($3.10).
The Farnley Stakes is run at Belmont on September 10.
The $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes will be staged at Ascot in November.
