HULL READY TO CHASE CITY BREAKTHROUGHS WITH STABLE STARS

JAKE Hull left Rosehill Gardens two days ago “super happy” after his stable stars Ferinzo and Valilee had both won trials.

Now the Wyong training base’s newest addition after recently transferring from Gosford is ready to head back to town for the “real thing”, hoping for similar results with the lightly-raced pair when they begin new campaigns.

Between them, Ferinzo and Valilee have won six of their nine starts so far – and their trainer is confident the best is yet to come.

Ferinzo, a Cosmic Force five-year-old, has won three (including the Springboard to Fame 2YO Plate at Grafton’s July carnival in 2024) of his five starts, and six-year-old Valilee, a son of Cox Plate winner Adelaide, has been beaten only once in four starts.

After also winning separate 800m trials at Hawkesbury on July 27, Ferinzo and Valilee repeated the dose at Rosehill last Friday, but this time with a difference.

Ferinzo won his trial at 1030m and Valilee at 900m, and the former had a new rider.

Whereas Mitchell Bell was aboard both at Hawkesbury, he stayed on Valilee and Tim Clark hopped aboard Ferinzo.

Valilee won his 900m heat in 53.34 seconds (last 600m in 34.07s), and Ferinzo clocked 63.18 seconds for the 1030m, coming home the last 600m in 35.07s.

Hull today explained the reason behind the switch of rider.

“Tim is a family relative, and will ride Ferinzo when he resumes at Royal Randwick on Saturday week in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m),” he said.

“We wanted him to get a feel of the gelding before that, so it was an ideal option to put him on in the trial last Friday.

“Ferinzo led early, then took a sit behind the leader, then came around his heels in the straight and won the trial nicely.

“Tim was very pleased with him, and is looking forward to riding him on Saturday week.

“Mitch has been on Valilee in his three wins, and will ride him when he resumes at Warwick Farm on Wednesday week in a 1000m Benchmark 72 Handicap.

“Valilee quickly took up the running in his Rosehill trial, and cruised home.

“Both horses have pulled up well, and I’m really looking forward to getting them back to the races in the next fortnight.”

. Fellow Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi also has his stable star Matcha Latte ready to begin another campaign after he also was an impressive 1000m trial winner at Rosehill on the course proper last Friday.

“I put blinkers back on Matcha Latte, and told his rider Ash Morgan I wanted him to have a good hitout,” Dilmi said today.

“I was really pleased with his trial, and he has come through it well.

“Now we have to workout which way to go with him.

“There are a few options.

“We could go down a path toward the $3m Big Dance (1600m at Randwick on November 3), or focus on some suitable Melbourne sprints.

“Whilst Matcha Latte always has had to be carefully managed, he is in great order at present and very sound.”

Matcha Latte won last year’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick for his previous trainer Sara Ryan, and finished third this year behind leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ pair Lord Of Biscay and Imposant at one of his only four starts since coming under Dilmi’s care.

Meanwhile, Dilmi says he is unlikely to have a representative in either of his home track’s feature races (Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes and Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Cup) at the Cup meeting on September 3.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 9, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS