BEN SMITH’S FAVORITE COLOURS LIGHT UP MEMORIES OF HIM

RACEGOERS might not have realised it, but there was a very special touch to Outakandy’s impressive Port Macquarie win yesterday.

The now five-year-old gelding was previously prepared by the late Newcastle and Kembla Grange trainer Ben Smith (above), who passed away in May last year at 42 years of age.

Not only did Outakandy race in Smith’s favorite navy blue and white colours (those worn by his 2018 Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes winner El Dorado Dreaming at Royal Randwick), but his brother Daniel and close mate Stuart Ruse are part-owners.

Smith won two races with the gelding at Kembla Grange and Wyong in January 2024 before joining Gosford trainer Jake Hull’s team later that year.

Former jockey Hull prepared his 42^nd career winner when Outakandy ($10), partnered by apprentice Grady Spokes, powered home to take the Class 2 Benchmark 62 Handicap (1200m) from a late finishing Bonus Tempus ($51) and Cool Az Aletta ($16).

“I was confident Outakandy would race well yesterday, and messaged the owners beforehand to say we would ride him quietly,” Hull explained today.

OUTAKANDY SALUTING AT WYONG IN JANUARY 2024 WHILE TRAINED BY SMITH

“He took a bit of figuring out last time in work, but had been galloping strongly with our good horse Ferinzo (narrowly beaten at Canterbury last Friday night at his metropolitan debut) in preparation for a new campaign.

“We had been riding him up on the pace, and he didn’t show the turn of foot I knew he had.

“Ridden back in the field yesterday, he was able to overhaul them in the straight after being the widest runner on the home turn.

“Unfortunately Daniel and Stuart weren’t able to be at Port Macquarie yesterday, but Daniel messaged me after the race to say well done.”

Whilst yesterday’s victory was Hull’s first with Outakandy, it should have been his second.

“He actually won a race at Coffs Harbour on September 4 last year, but stewards abandoned the race because they deemed it wasn’t a fair start,” he explained.

“The gates apparently didn’t open in unison, and whilst Outakandy was probably the worst sufferer, he was still first home.”

Hull was obviously thrilled to get Outakandy back into winning form at his first start since September 22, but still disappointed his talented young sprinter Ferinzo’s winning run this campaign came to an end at Canterbury.

With Nash Rawiller substituting for Josh Parr (who didn’t ride following the death of his father Stephen), Ferinzo finished third to the Kris Lees stablemates True To Form and Calga Power in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m).

The lightly-raced four-year-old (three wins from only five starts) shifted in abruptly after making the home turn and became badly unbalanced.

“It wasn’t Nash’s fault,” Hull said. “Ferinzo cost himself the race and should be unbeaten from three starts this campaign.

“Nash got off and said ‘you’ve got a really nice horse’.

“Ferinzo has pulled up okay, but I’m not sure what his immediate program will be.

“Nonetheless I’m sure he has a lot more to give whether it is this preparation or the next.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 23, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS