Bright future for Fieldelo after horse of the year triumph

BENDIGO trainer Toby Lake is not sure where the ceiling is for his exciting sprinter Fieldelo, but he is gladly enjoying the ride.

The daughter of Group 2 winner Deep Field capped an outstanding three-year-old season, when crowned the horse of the year for 2024-25 at the recent Bendigo Trainers’ Association awards.

It was a first for both horse and trainer, who only gained his licence in the first half of 2023.

Victorious in his first two starts at Kilmore in November last year and Bendigo in May, Fieldelo went on to finish second behind the highly-touted She’s An Artist at Flemington and fourth behind subsequent Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes winner Bridal Waltz, before finishing her campaign with a second in the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville, beaten by a nose.

As an emerging trainer, Lake is simply grateful to have a horse with Fieldelo’s ability in his stable.

“She was so close to winning the stakes race at her last start in Adelaide, but has had a short spell since and is back training, looking to kick-off her preparation over the Cox Plate Carnival at Moonee Valley,” he said.

“We are really looking forward to seeing what she can do.

“She went over to Adelaide to do a job; we wanted her to finish top three, which guaranteed her some Black-type on her pedigree page.

“She succeeded in that.”

Still with only a 68 rating, Lake is adamant the now four-year-old has untapped potential.

But where that leads is still anyone’s guess.

“She is still very untapped and has got plenty of improvement in her,” he said.

“I am extremely pleased with how she has returned.

“All the form around her has stood up. The horse that beat her in Adelaide (Cicala) bolted in over there again (on the day of the Bendigo Horse of the Year Awards).

“Bridal Waltz came out and won the Bletchingly and that’s weight-for-age form, and She’s An Artist was the second coming of Black Caviar for a while there.

“The ceiling could be anywhere. I’m really excited for this preparation.

“She’s only lowly-rated, only winning a maiden and a benchmark 58, before we tested her in better company, so she’ll just work her way through the grades.”

Forever proud of his Bendigo roots, Lake regards the stable’s first horse of the year award as a real honour.

The award has gone the way of some highly-talented performers in the past decade, most notably Miss Leonidas, who was placed twice at Group 1 level and won a Group 2, and Just Folk, a dual Group 2 winner for former trainer Josh Julius.

Lake was rapt to see the name of Fieldelo, who added the Bendigo sprinter of the year award to the stable’s haul up alongside them on the honour board.

Looking to the future, Lake has a couple of other prospects generating some buzz around the stable.

 

They include the three-year-old filly Scusies, who debuted in the VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo earlier this year, and is due to return to action this weekend, and an unraced Russian Camelot filly, Russian Firebird.

“It feels that after a couple of years hard work, buying and sourcing our young stock, things are hopefully about to come to the fore,” he said.

“Having started from scratch and building things up, every milestone along the way is celebrated and very rewarding.”

Meanwhile, despite only saddling up first Australian runner five months out from the end of the season, Tim Fitzsimmons claimed the Bendigo trainer’s premiership.

Fitzsimmons, who previously won the Singapore trainer’s premiership in 2022, relocated to Bendigo at the start of the year and had his first runner in late-February.

He ended the season with 11 winners, including two metropolitan, and 16 placings at a winning strike rate of 20 per cent.

Black Storm, who accounted for two of the wins, claimed the middle distance horse of the year award.

Fitzsimmons was quick to share the achievement with those who had supported the stable since the move.

“I’d like to thank my fantastic staff. They’ve worked tirelessly since we set up in Bendigo and this award is really a reflection of their commitment and care for the horses,” he said.

“I’m very lucky to have such a dedicated team around me.”To our owners, both new and long-standing, thank you for putting your faith in us.

“Your support has been the backbone of what we’ve been able to achieve in such a short time and it means the world.”

With a pair of winners on the board already this season, Fitzsimmons is optimistic about the future.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We’re looking forward to building on this momentum, having an even stronger season ahead, and continuing to grow into the future.”

Bendigo Horse racing Awards

Horse of the year: Fieldelo (Toby Lake).

Premiership trainer: Tim Fitzsimmons.

Leading picnic trainer: Stacey Kirkpatrick.

Strike rate trainer: Stacey Kirkpatrick.

Sprinter of the year: Fieldelo (Toby Lake).

Middle distance horse of the year: Black Storm (Tim Fitzsimmons)

Stayer of the year: You Betcha Woo (Jarrod Roboinson).