Phanta has given co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi plenty to cheer about after collecting back-to-back Listed victories.
Phanta claimed his first stakes success in the Bolton Sprint (1200m) and followed up in the Belmont Newmarket (1200m) a fortnight later.
Hopes for a feature race hat trick rests in the Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), his toughest test to date according to Michael Gangemi.
The Gingerbread Man gelding has never raced at weight-for-age level, but the Gangemi brothers are keen try him with an eye to the future.
“He’s got the runs on the board, but it’s a big test for Phanta,” Michael Gangemi told The Races WA.
“If it was a handicap we’d be more confident, but he is a horse in form and on the rise.
“Is he a weight for-age horse? Time will tell, it is a big step.
“He certainly hasn’t gone backwards since the Belmont Newmarket.”
Phanta has drawn barrier four and will be ridden by Brad Parnham.
The six-year-old is currently the $2.70 Tabtouch favourite, ahead of Valour Road $3.60, Nerodio $4 and Comes A Time $7.
Rated a $34 chance with unibet is Samizdat. The eight-year-old has not raced since January, but looked sharp in a recent barrier trial.
“He’s 50-50 to go on Saturday,” Michael Gangemi said.
“He will either trial on Monday or start, we’ll wait and see.
“He got a bit keen outside the leader in the trial, but is in a really good spot.
“Over racing in that trial showed us he wants to be out there.”
Meanwhile Notorious One has been retired after sustaining a setback in the Belmont Newmarket.
The richly-talented but mentally immature gelding, who made his debut as a five-year-old, ran second in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) and fourth in the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
“It’s very, very disappointing,” Michael Gangemi said.
“We never got to see the best of him.”
Michael Gangemi says stable mate Clemenceau is on target for his Perth debut at Ascot in November.
Labelled as one of the best horses the Gangemi’s have ever bought, the $200,000 on-line purchase will target the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m), Winterbottom Stakes (1400m) and The Gold Rush (1400m).
