Alwyn Park resident Maschino sired his latest interstate winner when Victorian-based gelding Fatty Finn cruised home in the Programmed Property Services Maiden Plate (1415m) at Sale on Wednesday.
Studmaster John Andrew will be hoping it was a timely omen when he broke through third time out as an even-money favourite for trainer Charlotte Littlefield and jockey Zac Spain. He sat on the speed and won with something in hand from Just For Kicks (Rebel Dane) and She’s Got The Cash (Turn Me Loose).
Meanwhile, Maschino (Encosta de Lago) is marking time with his star mare Machine Gun Gracie ready to perform at the elite level for the first time in the G1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday. She firmed into $13 last weekend and is now as short as $9 with Ladbrokes two sleeps away from Day 2 of The Championships.
Fatty Finn pictured prior to the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale
Fatty Finn (3g Maschino – Heavenly Affair by Playing God) sold for $75,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions and races for a partnership managed by Lyn Joyce. “This horse just keeps on improving and is still a work in progress,” Spain said. “He has a lovely turn of foot and I’ve got a lot of time for him.
“I went with him as long as he settled today. He was a bit keen but really quickened in the straight.”
Bred by Rangeview Stud’s Rob and Jody Gray, Fatty Finn is the first live foal from Heavenly Affair (Playing God) who was a Belmont specialist for trainer Vern Brockman. His second-dam Parc D’Amour (Bletchley Park) won the WATC Belmont Oaks (LR, 2000m) in 2007.
“Zac took luck out of the equation and rode him to perfection,” Littlefield told racing.com “Lyn also has Bruiser Murphy (Exceedance) with me and he won first-up at Moe in February. They’re well-named but I’m strapping today and haven’t got time to go into the back story.”
Charlotte was referring to the 1980s Australian film Fatty Finn that was set in the 1930s. The lead character was a street-smart boy growing up at inner-city Woolloomooloo in Sydney. Bruiser Murphy and his gang tried to stop him making a quick quid but Fatty used his brains against brawn to eventually triumph in a feelgood finish to the movie.
Fatty Finn has an unraced 2yo half-sister named Winning Affair (Shooting To Win) with Rob Gulberti and he went back and purchased the yearling half-sister by Splintex for $25,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February. Their dam’s latest is a colt foaled in October by Geisel Park sire Aysar.
