Same race, different venue-but a familiar result.
Two years after conquering the Belmont Newmarket (1200m) at Belmont, Phanta repeated the feat at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Phanta tracked the hot speed set by Puli, staying withing striking distance before jockey Brad Parnham made his move.
At the top of the straight, Parnham took off and booted clear, riding Phanta with vigour to the line and lifting the seasoned eight-year-old to a second Belmont Newmarket triumph.
Phanta, trained by Chris and Michael Gangemi, defeated Fluro Neuro by a half-length with another neck to favourite Stormchaser.
Fluro Neuro was excellent first-up, showing sharpness and Stormchaser defied the pattern of the day with a barnstorming run from last, charging home against the tempo to grab the eye.
Phanta was well-suited by the on-pace conditions and relished the soft-rated track, but Chris Gangemi was quick to highlight the merit of the win, praising the gelding’s effort to carry the top weight of 59kg to victory.
“Obviously the track might have helped him a touch being on-pace, but he still carried 59kg, sat outside the lead off good speed and fought on super,” Gangemi said.
“I’m really proud of him, he’s won a lot of his races running them into the ground like that.
“He’s been a champion for us.”
Phanta continued the Gangemi stables remarkable record in the Belmont Newmarket, adding another chapter to their dominance in the race with a fifth win.
Their latest triumph came after Super Maxi (2018), Saracino (2020), Samizdat (2021) and Phanta (2023).
Parnham celebrated his birthday in style securing his third Belmont Newmarket. His previous wins came aboard Call Me Henry (2005) and Phanta (2023), cementing his status as a proven performer in the feature sprint.
The day only got better for the Gangemi stable and Parnham as King Adviso capped off the meeting in style with a bold front-running display, leading from barrier to post to seal a dominant victory in the Happy 80th Birthday Bobby McPherson Handicap (1600m).
Julio Santarelli