Zara Fitzpatrick following her Menangle success. Photo by Club Menangle
Despite only recently kicking off her driving career, on Tuesday afternoon 16-year-old Zara Fitzpatrick achieved a career highlight by scoring her first win at the state’s headquarters, Tabcorp Park Menangle aboard square gaiting filly Malibuu.
Trained by her mother Lisa, Zara produced a controlled drive, way beyond her experience to get the juvenile trotter home first, coming away from the pegs with a well-timed run at the 500 metre mark before maintaining her composure to guide the wayward filly to a narrow victory with just inches separating the first four placegetters.
Fitzpatrick has already racked up 19 winners in her brief time in the gig, with leading stables throughout the Sydney basin capitalising on her extraordinary talent and valuable five-point concession claim.
After the race, Zara explained that the win was one of relief, pointing out that it was great to get the monkey off her back by claiming her first on the major track.
“I am so relieved to get that first win at Menangle,” she said.
“Up until now it has been a track where I have not had much luck - so I am stoked to get that one behind me.
“This filly was bred by mum, and she also trains her which made it all the more special.
“Heading into the race I felt that Malibuu was a realistic winning chance, and my confidence was bolstered by the perfect trail we got just off the pace and the way she travelled up in running
“Given all of that, she was always going to be hard to hold out.”
Zara is back in action tonight at Penrith where she has three drives, her first aboard Fear The Eagle in race three, closely followed by Smirks Lika Boss (race four) and Rickoshay (race five).
Rickoshay is trained by Zara’s father Blake, the gelding looking to break a frustrating run of seven successive placings throughout April and May.
Drawn to get a nice run through the field in gate eight, conditions appear ideal for Rickoshay over 1720 metre trip, and he is dropping in class from his past two Menangle outings.
“It does appear that tonight’s race will suit him,” said Zara.
“There is some speed drawn on the front row so we are hoping they will run along to give us the chance to come home over the top of them.”
