HULL BOWS TO THE BOSS’ JUDGEMENT

THE boss was right!

Gosford trainer Jake Hull gave due credit to his major owner John O’Connor after $26 chance Rathoran turned in a blistering first-up performance to score at Wyong yesterday.

“I felt Rathoran was better placed in shorter races with the speed on earlier in his career, and John was keen to try him over longer,” Hull said this morning.

“I had reservations, but the gelding showed at the end of last campaign when we ran him at 1400m to 1600m that the boss was on the money.

“Rathoran is a lovely horse, and has definitely come back better.”

Purchased for $280,000 at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race sale in Sydney as an unraced two-year-old after being sold earlier in the year for $75,000 as a yearling, the now Shalaa five-year-old looks set for a fruitful campaign.

“We really liked Rathoran, and that’s why we were prepared to pay a bit of money to get him at the Ready2Race sale,” Hull explained.

“He has been a slow maturer, but there’s no doubting his ability.”

Rathoran drew the outside barrier in a field of 11 in yesterday’s Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) and settled a clear last.

But he absolutely “sprouted wings” in the straight to overpower his rivals and post his fourth victory (he has also been placed eight times) at his 18^th start.

Rathoran’s one drawback is that he is slow out of the gates, and Hull says he has tried everything to correct that.

“It’s just him, and the plan yesterday was to go across behind them and hopefully get the luck when we needed it.

“Rathoran’s rider Anna Roper deserves a lot of credit as well.

“She rode him toward the end of his last campaign, and won twice on him at Taree and Port Macquarie, and was second on him over 1600m at Hawkesbury on a heavy track.

“Anna has so much confidence in Rathoran.

“She was adamant last time in work that he would win in town at his next preparation.”

Hull believes Rathoran, whose first-up triumph had a real local flavour about it as he is the second foal of Never Out (whom Wyong trainer Kim Waugh won four races with), might even stretch to 2000m.

“It’s not a given, but if he can show the same turn of foot as he did yesterday when he gets out over further ground, then that’s a real possibility,” he said.

“We will definitely get him up to 1600m at least.”

Hull says the RacingNSW handicapping panel’s verdict of Rathoran’s win in terms of his benchmark rating will determine where he heads with him next.

Along with Rathoran, the young trainer is particularly looking forward to the coming months with a couple of talented young horses who are preparing for new campaigns.

They are the Adelaide five-year-old Valilee, who won his first two starts at Gosford and Hawkesbury in winter, and now Cosmic Force four-year-old Ferinzo, who hasn’t raced since bolting away with the Springboard To Fame Showcase Plate as a two-year-old at Grafton’s July carnival last year.

“Valilee won at his first trial back at Gosford earlier in the week, and Ferinzo (whose career has been delayed because of a fractured pelvis) is in work and getting closer to a return,” Hull said.

Rathoran was Hull’s 36^th career winner – and third this season - since switching to training three years ago after a successful riding career.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 27, 2025 - BRADLEY PHOTOS