Young reinswoman registers personal milestone

TALENTED young reinswoman Zara Fitzpatrick registered a personal milestone at Club Menangle last night.

No stranger to success at the world class venue, Fitzpatrick captured an Australian Pacing Gold Final with promising filly Swinging Queen to notch her biggest win.

Fitzpatrick’s previous top ranking success was last season’s Foundation Final with Cee Cee In Paris.

Making Fitzpatrick’s triumph all-the-more special is her father, Blake, trains the two-year-old, while her mother, Lisa, is a part-owner.

“That is my biggest win and I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Fitzpatrick said. “Winning a $100,000 race is the thing you dream of as a driver, and the fact Dad trains it and Mum is one of the owners just makes it that much more special.

“I also beat Dad into second, which is great too!”

Brilliantly driven at the start, Swinging Queen was settled in the perfect one-one position from barrier seven as the hot favourite Peachesncream worked to the lead gate eight.

Angled into the clear at the top of the home straight, Swinging Queen reached the front in the last stride to score by a half-head from her stablemate, Sophies Wish.

Peachesncream battled on to be a half-neck away third.

“I thought she went well when second in the prelude a couple of weeks ago and gave her a strong each way chance,” Fitzpatrick said. “During the run, I was getting pretty confident as she’d had a good run and was travelling well.”

To be given a well-earned break, Swinging Queen will then be aimed at the Breeders’ Challenge later in the season.

“It’s straight to the paddock for her,” Blake said. “She will have a month off before we get her ready for the Breeders’ Challenge.

“She’s done well with a win, two seconds and two fourths from five starts and I think she will benefit from some time off.”