Fantastic Barb has excelled since stepping up to middle distance racing and she is set to notch up another win in the Sportingbet Stakes (600m) at Dapto tonight.
Fantastic Barb finished fourth at her 600m debut at Dapto but has won her only two starts since over the middle distance trip - scoring in a smart 34.86 at Dapto on December 26 and then over the 618m at Richmond on January 18. In between Fantastic Barb was unplaced over the 520m at Wentworth Park.
Despite boasting a record of 11 wins from 24 starts, including two at Wentworth Park, owner-trainer Jason Fletcher said the daughter of Where's Pedro and Dark Marne did not have much of a future as a sprinter.
"She won two at Wentworth Park but they were both in slow time," Fletcher said.
"I wasn't sure if she would step up to the 600m, I was more hopeful than anything.
"But she has done well so far over the middle distance trip. She's a good beginner and can put herself into a race so hopefully she can win again tonight.
"She much prefers to be drawn near the inside because she is a good railer so box three is ideal."
Fletcher said he will stick to the middle distance for the time being but is hopeful Fantastic Barb can step up to the staying trip at some stage.
"Hopefully in a few months she'll be toughened up enough to run a bit further," he said.
"Her run home times are only average at the moment so she is definitely not ready to step up yet."
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