YOUNG Gosford trainer Jake Hull is excited about Thursday’s impressive Grafton carnival winner Ferinzo’s future.
Having only his second start, $3 favorite Ferinzo (Ben Looker) bolted home with the Springboard To Fame 2YO Showcase Plate (1175m).
The impressive part about his performance was the manner in which he extended over the closing stages to put a tidy gap at the end between himself and runner-up Calido Magic ($14).
Former jockey Hull, who is making a splendid fist of his training career (this was his 22nd winner and 14th this season), was especially pleased to win the race for Feringo’s ladies’ syndicate, which includes Michelle Griffiths and Erin O’Connor.
“Michelle is Gosford Race Club vice-chairman Michael Griffiths’ wife, and Erin is the daughter of John O’Connor,” Hull said.
“Michael and John are my two major clients, and paid $190,000 for Ferinzo at last year’s Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
“Ferinzo is doing it on raw ability, and by no means is the fully furnished product.
“He’s a lovely horse, and will go for a spell to give him further time to develop.
“Being a Magic Millions protégé, Ferinzo will be aimed at that carnival at the Gold Coast in January.
“The Springboard to Fame has produced some very nice horses in the past, and hopefully Feringo is another who goes on to better things.
“He still has a bit of growing up to do, so the future looks exciting.”
Hull is seeking another Grafton success with Ferinzo’s two-year-old stablemate Lord Vettori (Looker) when the five-day carnival closes on Sunday.
Lord Vettori ran third on debut in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1050m) at Grafton on July 7, and tackles the Maiden Plate (1100m) at the Maclean Cup meeting.
. Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft won the first ever Big Maiden when it was introduced at the July carnival in 2013.
Eleven years later he was back on Thursday to do it again – this time with another three-year-old filly.
Catseye Surprise (Christian Reith) won the inaugural 2013 race, and Hot Jive (Alysha Collett) followed in her hoofbeats.
Croft paid only $7000 for Hot Jive at the 2022 Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney.
She was having her 14th start (after five placings) and ran right up to her trial victory at home last week in breaking through in the $50,000 Big Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1175m).
Collett rode Hot Jive ($4.60) in the trial, and gave her a beaut ride at Grafton, sitting back in the second half of the field before launching out in the centre of the track in the straight.
She sustained a strong run to defeat Kembla Grange trainer Paul Murray’s debutante Harry’s Bar ($3.80 favorite).
“Alysha was always very confident after riding her in the trial,” Croft said on Thursday evening.
“Hot Jive probably got to the front a bit too early, but it was good to win that race again.
“She has always shown plenty of ability, but at the same time has had a tendency to loose the plot.
“She was good in the saddling enclosure today before going out onto the track.”
Croft, who heads home on Friday for Hawkesbury’s final meeting of the season on Sunday, went close to a Grafton carnival double.
Last year’s $91 Grafton Guineas placegetter Gallic Fox ($7) was narrowly beaten yesterday by another Hawkesbury representative, Edward O’Rourke’s Twin Turbo ($5), in the Class 2 Showcase Plate (1600m).
. Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price and Kerry Parker continued their excellent seasons by winning races at their home track meeting on Thursday.
Team Price landed the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) with $4 favorite Headstock (Tyler Schiller), whereas Parker’s debutante Take You There (Lee Magorrian) somewhat surprised her trainer by scoring in the Midway 3YO Maiden Handicap (1200m) at $31.
Story John Curtis, July 18, 2024 - Pics Darren Winningham
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