Fletcher's ‘Fantastic' Maitland Finish

EMERGING youngster Fantastic Yankee landed a slender victory in Thursday's Maitland Supporters Club Juvenile Final (450m) at Maitland for trainer Jason Fletcher, prevailing in a ding-dong battle over second favourite Good Odds Harada in a thrilling finish to the $2,500 to-the-winner event.

Battling it out neck-and-neck for almost the entirety of the 450-metre trip, it was even-money favourite Fantastic Yankee that landed the prize at the finish by a neck in a best of program 25.12, the 23-month old son of Kc And All and Fantastic Dotty extending his career record to four wins from six appearances.

For runner-up Good Odds Harada, recent winner of the Maitland Future Stars Maiden Final, the sparkling start to his career continued for trainer Frank Hurst, the narrow defeat taking the son of Collision's record to the two wins and two placings from the four outings.

For Falls Creek trainer Jason Fletcher, he landed a winning double on the program, with Fantastic Winnie atoning for last week's shock defeat at 5/2 on with a powerhouse 22.66 success, the daughter of Fabregas' sixth win from 14 starts.

On a terrific day of racing out of Maitland, the second event went the way of Jimmy Yat Yin for trainer Mark Smith, the daughter of Kc And All landing her maiden at start four in a sharp 25.78.

Race three of the afternoon saw the Sharon Grey-trained Tweetey register an impressive all-the-way win over the 565m, the daughter of Barcia Bale recording a second career win in 32.41.