Tenacious South Pacific Classic Win for Panic (NZ)

The number of stakes-winning graduates to come out of Karaka 2022 went up to 40 on Saturday with three new additions, including a courageous and classy performance by Panic (NZ) (Time Test) in the A$200,000 Listed Bisley Workwear South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick.

Panic has now won four of his six starts and A$179,000 in stakes, having been bought for $80,000 from the Book 1 draft of Blandford Lodge at Karaka 2022. He joins the Karaka 2022 roll of honour alongside Saturday’s fellow first-time stakes winners Epee Beel (Epaulette) and War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel).

The Michael Freedman-trained Panic made a good impression winning three of his first five starts in lower grades, but Saturday marked a big step up in class. The gelding showed that he belonged on that big stage, coming out on top against a talented field of 15 three-year-olds.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, Panic was prominently positioned throughout the race and hit the lead early in the long Randwick home straight. Challengers lined up across the track to try to run him down, but Panic dug deep and held on by a short head.

“I was getting a little bit anxious that last bit,” Freedman said. “Tommy made the suggestion that we put a set of winkers on him earlier in the week. He has ridden him a bit and he was a bit wayward at Wyong when he got in front the other day, so credit to Tommy with the gear change.

“I would love to eventually see this horse ridden with a bit of cover. When you see what he can do at home, when he works off the back of another horse, he’s a nice sort of horse. I think there is more in store for him.

“I will see how he pulls up, but the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) in three weeks’ time is an option, or maybe something in Queensland. We will just get through today and have a bit of a think.”

Berry has now ridden Panic to two wins from three rides.

“I thought he was always going to make it up to this grade, I just didn’t think it would be so early with what he has been doing at home,” Berry said. “It’s a great training performance by the team. They have given him that win at Wyong to boost his confidence first-up, and he has definitely gone on with it now.”

Panic was bred by JML Bloodstock and is out of an unraced full-sister to Saracino (NZ) (O’Reilly), who won the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and Group Two Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa and also placed in the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m) and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).