Jennifer Hatfield set for city shot

By Jordan Gerrans

Mackay’s Jennifer Hatfield is only in the infancy of her training career and she will savour every second of starting her stable star Fabulean on the QTIS Jewel program at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

At just 28 years of age, Hatfield has been a rising figure in the Central and North Queensland training ranks over the last few years.

Fabulean has earnt her opportunity at the big smoke by winning on her home deck at Mackay in the middle of last month in stylish fashion.

The up-and-coming horsewoman has retained multiple Group 1-winning hoop Sean Cormack for Saturday’s assignment after he helped qualify the filly for the three-year-old edition of the rich QTIS Jewel.

With $500,000 on the line over 1200 metres on Saturday, it is a ‘pinch yourself’ moment for the relative newcomer to the training ranks to be even starting a horse in a race at this level.

“It is a really big deal,” Hatfield said.

“So, we do like doing it and it's a big, exciting thing for us because obviously our races at home aren't quite as big as coming all the way down here. 

"But, it really is a great experience coming down here.”

Hatfield and her partner Henry Manzelmann, who hails from the prominent regional racing Manzelmann clan, lobbed at Beaudesert on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s event.

They have quickly developed into an emerging force in CQ and NQ racing.

The stable has racked up 28 victories dating back to early 2021.

They are enjoying a strong 2025-26 campaign, registering nine winners at a healthy strike-rate of 20%.

Fabulean will need to contend with a wide barrier on Saturday afternoon and the bookmakers have not given the Mackay filly much hope.

But, the history of the QTIS Jewel says the form out of Central Queensland is as competitive as any in the state and Hatfield is hopeful her daughter of Lean Mean Machine can be competitive.

“Fabulean has given us a real good go,” she said.

“We've had her since the two-year-old and she has come a long way since being a two-year-old. She has matured a lot into herself.

“If you get the shot at a race like this, you may as well take it.

“It is honestly a really big deal for me. I don't have many horses in my stable, so we don't really get too many opportunities to get it.

“But, when we do, we make the most of it and she definitely has given us the opportunity to come down here and maybe have a shot at getting there.”

The trip this week to the big smoke is the second time Fabulean and Hatfield have ventured south in recent months.

They contested the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben in early December.

While the bay filly was well beaten on that occasion, Hatfield believes it was an important learning curve for the horse and trainer.

Fabulean has since returned to regional Queensland where she placed at Cluden Park before winning at Mackay.

“We have come a long way since we first started,” Hatfield said of her own training journey. 

"Our horses are definitely of a better quality now than when I first started with my first few.

“But, obviously you've got to start somewhere and it has come a long way and it really has gone well. 

"It really was a learning experience for both me and her when we came down a few months ago.

“We have only raced at a couple of tracks around here, Ipswich and a couple of other places, but it was the first time we've ever raced at Doomben.

“Learning the track and how they race down here, the speed that they race to down here is a lot different at home. 

“Obviously, it was a learning experience for her as to getting into the field with the horses and stuff.

“It was a very big learning experience for me as to the tactics and things that they use down here that are a lot different to home.”

Hatfield, who trains six in Mackay, spent time working for trainers John Manzelmann and Olivia Cairns before going out on her own.

Fabulean is raced by prominent Mackay owner Kris Thomas, who bred the filly, and has been a big supporter of Hatfield’s training in recent years.

The stable has several options with Fabulean going forward, with Hatfield having her eyes on the upcoming winter carnival in CQ and NQ while racing more so in the city is another consideration.