Geall Sheds Phoenix Dismay To Plot 1000 Win

MELBOURNE Cup runner-up Fernando Mick is favourite for Thursday night's Group 1 Hobart Thousand (461m); but trainer David Geall is disappointed the evergreen veteran didn't secure a slot in Saturday night's The Phoenix.

After Fernando Mick was denied Melbourne Cup glory when edged out by Yachi Bale, beaten just half a length, Geall was optimistic he would secure the final slot in The Phoenix, which eventually went to El Dorado.

FIELDS AND FORM HOBART THURSDAY NIGHT

"I was surprised and very disappointed he didn't get picked for The Phoenix," Geall said.

"We know he came very close. It was a 50/50 call.

"I've heard some people thought he was too old for The Phoenix, which is mystifying. He's had 91 starts and turns four in February but he's going better now that he's too old than he was when he was too young!"

Figures support Geall's belief the prolific son of Fernando Bale and Noaki Moth is racing as well as ever.

He's won eight of his past 12 starts, with two of his defeats coming in G1 company, second in the Melbourne Cup and fourth in the Adelaide Cup, while he also ran fourth in the G3 Silver Bullet.

After missing a berth in The Phoenix, Fernando Mick had his second crack at the Hobart Thousand, having run third in a heat in 2021.

Victorian raider Fernando Mick set the time standard in last night's heats for the Group 1 @ladbrokescomau Hobart Thousand and shapes as the likely favourite for next week's $150,000 decider. @BWRyan1994 has the review of a top night of racing. https://t.co/st2X0BvgNl pic.twitter.com/Y5VlBvmtgV

— Tasracing Australia (@TasracingAus) December 9, 2022

The $1.95 favourite from box 3 in the fourth of seven heats, Fernando Mick once again demonstrated great early speed as he opened up a decisive mid-race lead, defeating fellow Victorian Who Told Shorty by 3.25L in a scorching Best Of Night 25.63sec.

"I was really happy with him," said Geall.

"He'd been down there last year, so we just opted to fly down on the day and I was a bit worried that might have affected him, but he flew!

"He's a terrific dog. He can go from running second in a Melbourne Cup to running 25.63sec around one-bend at Hobart. He's very adaptable."

Fernando Mick was one of three Victorian-trained heat winners.

2021 G2 Bendigo Cup winner Paua Of Buddy, trained by Steve White, was the second quickest qualifier, running 25.73sec, while David Burnett's Jebediah edged out WA star Vice Grip in 25.78sec to qualify for his first Group final.

Another Vic in Nyah Nyah Flyer, which is based with Tasmanian trainer Eileen Thomas but raced by a syndicate including Matt Lanigan, who trained 2016 Thousand winner Zipping Bruiser, won his heat in 25.95sec.

After drawing box 2 for Thursday night's $100,000 to-the-winner final – race 8 at 9.25pm – Fernando Mick is Sportsbet's $2.50 favourite, with Paua Of Buddy the $3 second elect from box 8.

"Box 1 would've been ideal, but from box 2 he's got a very good chance," Geall offered.

"He's been beginning so well for the last four or five months and if he can do it again, he's a really good show.

"Paua Of Buddy will be hard to beat off ‘the pink' and Dave Burnett's dog (Jebediah) went well in its heat, while there's some good locals too.

"This will be his eighth Group final and he deserves to win a real big one. It's his third Group 1. I thought we had the Melbourne Cup again until Yachi Bale swallowed him up on the line. He was only beaten half a length in the Maturity last year as well."

Geall is chasing his second Tasmanian ‘major' for 2022, having won the G2 Launceston Cup in January with Hill Top Jack.

Geall ran third in last year's Hobart Thousand with superstar sprinter Ferdinand Boy, which has almost certainly run his last race after sustaining a back muscle injury in a trial.