An association spanning more than 15 years continues to pay dividends for trainer Danny O’Brien.
Fabric, winner of Saturday’s Fight Cancer Foundation Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield, is the latest O’Brien winner to wear the Waikato Stud colours.
The association between O’Brien and Waikato Stud dates back to 2004 with Glamour Puss, a dual Group One winner of the Goodwood Handicap and Salinger Stakes, just as the trainer was commencing his career.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Fabric ($8.50) scored by 1-1/4 lengths from the $2.70 favourite Haut Brion Her with One More Try ($81) a length away third.
“It’s a relationship we’ve had for a long, long time with Waikato Stud and they’re in the top three studs in Australasia,” O’Brien said.
“They’re a sensational operation and any horse you get from them, there’s a fair chance it will be a good horse.
“It’s Mark Chittick’s (of Waikato Stud) birthday today, so we’re very happy to get a win for him today.”
O’Brien said Fabric would now get her chance to step up to stakes level in the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 5.
“She’s a filly that showed good promise as a three-year-old but she’s come back a bit bigger and stronger,” O’Brien said.
Fabric’s victory provided O’Brien a double having won the 4Cyte For Living Legends Handicap (1600m) with Skiddaw.
O’Brien has Skiddaw heading towards the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2 and plans to run the three-year-old in the UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 5.
