Fides fit and ready ahead of Hamilton Cup assignment

He’s described as being like a “cuddly little teddy bear” by his trainer-driver Mattie Craven, whose love for injury-plagued speedster Fides could hardly be more evident.

Craven saluted to the crowd as the eight-year-old charged to a first-up victory at Bendigo on Saturday night and then spoke lovingly about the son of Rock N Roll Heaven during Tuesday’s edition of TrotsLife on SENTrack.

Fides had not raced for more than a year before running past La Captain in the sprint lane to win the final event at Lord’s Raceway, which was amazingly just his third start since April of 2020.

“It’s one of those things that seems only happens to the good ones,” Craven said of Fides’ injury problems.

“He’s never had anything serious, but the last two years he’s had some injuries that have kept him off the track and out of work for a fair period of time.

“He’s been a horse who has been a little bit susceptible to some significant muscle tears… he had a pretty significant one at one stage where it did look like he had a football over his back.

“He came back, had a win and a second and then had a little fracture in a back leg.

“It’s pretty frustrating, but I’m very fortunate that he’s got a wonderful bunch of owners and he’s been a stable favourite since he first arrived.

“Everyone just loves him and he’s like a cuddly little teddy bear to have around. He’s such a friendly little character to anyone who gets to come in contact with him.

“It’s nice to have him back at the track and racing, and to get the result on Saturday night was very pleasing for all involved.”

Craven has backed-up Fides for this Sunday’s Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup, where he will start from barrier 10 in a field featuring the likes of Ultimate Vinnie for Sam Barker, Arggghhh for David Miles and Group 1 winner Major Meister for Alex Ashwood.

“There’s nowhere for him to hide anymore, he’s in free-for-all company,” Craven said.

“He definitely possesses the speed to be competitive, it’s just, I guess, hopefully getting enough races into him that he can be rock-hard fit to really compete at that (top) level. That’s the hard part.

“When you’re only racing here and there, it’s really hard to be competitive at that top level. So it’s going to take him a little bit to probably season into that if he’s capable of standing up to a preparation like that, but we can only hope.”

Fides has won 11 races from just 29 career starts.

Craven will also have a hand in Sunday’s Alexandra House Sports Club Hamilton Trotters Cup with forgotten squaregaiter Lotamuscle back for a first-up assignment in the $20,000 event.

The 2021 Inter Dominion finalist has not raced since late 2022 when he won the Group 2 Sundons Gift Trotters Free For All at Melton.

He will be driven by Craven’s partner Amy Day, who will start from the 20m handicap alongside Paddy Lee’s Keayang Xena and Keayang Chucky, with Brent Lilley’s Aldebaran Keepa off 30m.