Michael Hickmott will pay the $15,000 late entry fee for his emerging staying filly Fringes to run in next month’s G1 Queensland Oaks but who foots the bill is still being determined.
The three-year-old announced herself as a late-season classic contender with victory in the G3 SA Fillies Classic over 2500m at Morphettville on Goodwood Day.
The daughter of Niagara is raced by Hickmott’s longtime client and friend, NZ-based Trish Dunnell, but the trainer confirmed strong interest from at least one leading syndicator is likely to see a majority share in the filly change hands in the coming days.
He said regardless of a sale, the plan is for Fringes to travel to Melbourne via road and then board a flight to Brisbane several days before the $700,000 G1 race at Eagle Farm on June 6.
“She’s going to be a late nomination and at this stage she’s booked on a flight on June 2nd,” Hickmott said.
“The plan is to run her but she will likely be in a different set of colours.
“There’s been interest from a leading syndicator.
“She’s jumping out of her skin at the moment.
“She’s had two starts with the blinkers on – she came from last and won pretty easily against the older horses and she won quite well the other day after being held up and only really getting a crack at them late.
“She stays and she handles the wet so there’s no reason not to have a go.”
Hickmott, who is searching for his first G1 win, took Party Crasher to Queensland in 2025 but the horse was a late scratching behind the barriers before the G1 Queensland Derby.
