The Phantom Chance and his brother, The Phantom were tough, Kiwi bred fighters that won major features later in life

The Phantom Chance, foaled November 1989 was a legendary New Zealand Thoroughbred who won the New Zealand Derby in 1992 and Cox Plate in 1993, earning over $2 million in his 44-race career. The chestnut gelding was owned by Mr WB Balin, trained by astute horseman Colin Jillings with Bobby Vance his regular rider who won seven aboard the horse and saddled him up in the vast majority of his major international contests. Although he may not have achieved the rich record of many top Australasian gallopers, he was a Kiwi favourite throughout the period as he raced with the toughness of a hardy bred horse.

The Phantom Chance, a gelding by the mighty sire, Noble Bijou out of The Fantasy, was a member of one of New Zealand's best-known Thoroughbred families. The Dennis brothers, renowned breeders from Southland, produced a distinguished lineage of exceptional racehorses. This esteemed family boasts a remarkable legacy of success, with numerous top-flight racehorses sharing a distinctive naming convention: their names all commence with "The."

The Pixie (1968, Mellay - The Kurd): 1981 Broodmare of the Year (who produced The Twinkle and The Fantasy).

The Fantasy (1974, Gate Keeper - The Pixie): 1994 Broodmare of the Year.

The Twinkle (1975, Gate Keeper - The Pixie)

The Dimple (1977, Noble Bijou - The Pixie) 16 race wins. Dam of Irish Chance, winner of the 1999 Auckland Cup.

The Phantom Chance (1989, Noble Bijou - The Fantasy): 1993 Cox Plate and a full-brother to The Phantom.

The Phantom (1985, Noble Bijou - The Fantasy), a full-brother to The Phantom Chance, winner of the 1990 Underwood Stakes and 1993 McKinnon Stakes.

The Grin (1992, Grosvenor - The Dimple): winner of the 1996 Southland Guineas and 2003 Broodmare of the Year.

The Jewel (1999, O'Reilly - The Grin): winner of 11 races including the 2002 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, New Zealand International Stakes, Doomben Roses as well as runner-up in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, New Zealand Oaks and Queensland Oaks.

The Glitzy One (2007, Flying Spur - The Jewel): winner of 8 races.

The Chosen One (2015, Savabeel - The Glitzy One): winner of the 2019 Manawatu Classic (G3 2200m) Frank Packer Plate, Herbert Power Stakes and 2022 Thorndon Mile. 4th and 5th in the 2020 and 2021 Melbourne Cup

The gelding didn't race at two and made a slow start to his three-year-old career, finishing third in his first two starts. But then he won eight races on end, six of them at stakes level, including the Derby and the Group one Cambridge Stud International Stakes against the older horses to confirm his status as New Zealand's champion three-year-old for the season. The Phantom Chance had his fair share of injury set backs in his career and raced until he was a 10yo, however he only managed 40 odd starts and never more then 10 in a single season. One of his greatest victories came in The Turnbull, where he burst through late to nut the brilliant Naturalism right on at the line at Flemington. The horse also ran 2nd to Dancing Sun in the 1996 Canberra Cup.

His fantastic win in the 1993 WS Cox Plate displayed his overall incredible strength and relentess determination, sitting three wide down the rock hard Moonee Valley back straight, then driving to the lead out of the final turn and powering away. Solvit ran 2nd and another fine Kiwi galloper, Veandercross was also running that day, but no one present could deny the brilliance of The Phantom Chance. On 28 November 1993, ridden by Robert Vance, he placed 12th of 16 in the Japan Cup won by Legacy World. He finished three places behind the his regular Australian combatant, Naturalism. He continued to race through to the age of ten, and occasionally experienced success in both New Zealand and Australia at stakes level. The Phantom Chance passed away aged 25 in 2014 after a long life that bought joy to many Kiwi punters.

His full brother, The Phantom born in 1985 was also a powerfully strong, successful galloper, that won two Stakes races in Australia. He won the McKinnon Stakes in Melbourne as an 8yo in 1993 and was placed twice in a Melbourne Cup, twice in a Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. His Caulfield Cup placing came four years apart, and he might have lost his best chance to win the Melbourne Cup when the rain came in 1993. From three to five, trained by Murray Baker, The Phantom's major highlights included high quality wins in the Memsie and the Underwood Stakes, and he was third in the 1989 Caulfield Cup won by Cole Diesel, and second in the 1990 Melbourne Cup to Kingston Rule. In the spring of 1993, The Phantom returned to racing after a long injury layoff now trained by Noel Eales, and immediately won the Gr.3 Central Stakes over 1600m at Wanganui. Later in the same campaign, after placing third in the Caulfield Cup, which included G1 winners Mannerism, Subzero, and the victor, Fraar, The Phantom won the Mackinnon Stakes, defeating Fraar, Naturalism, Castletown, Veandercross, with his brother The Phantom Chance coming in sixth. His record from 39 starts was, 10 wins, 13 placings and $1,689,224 in earnings. He also won the 1993/1994 New Zealand Horse of the Year.

THE PHANTOM CHANCE

RACE RECORD - 44: 11-3-4
EARNINGS - $2,189,706

New Zealand Derby (1992)
W S Cox Plate (1993)
Turnbull Stakes (1993)

THE PHANTOM

RACE RECORD - 39: 10-6-7
EARNINGS - A$1,689,224

Underwood Stakes (1990)
Mackinnon Stakes (1993)
Cambridge Stud International Stakes (1994)

New Zealand Horse of the Year (1994)