HULL’S MOST SATISFYING TRIUMPH WITH COMEBACK FERINZO

JAKE Hull described it as the “most satisfying” win of his blossoming training career.

And it’s easy to understand why.

The Gosford-based former jockey’s 40^th career success at Newcastle’s Beaumont track yesterday carried much more significance than simply winning a Class 1 Handicap (1150m).

It was the talented Ferinzo’s first start in 18 months after a fractured pelvis sidelined him at a time when he should have been racing and learning his craft, along with other young horses.

Josh Parr was happy to drive to Newcastle to get heavily supported Ferinzo ($1.70 favorite) home ahead of Perle De Chocolat ($20) and leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Bianca Mia ($6) for his second win at only his third start.

“I was getting nervous when he was at such short odds as I knew he was nowhere near wound up after such a long layoff,” Hull said this morning.

“He did a lot wrong and still got the job done, and I can see so much improvement in him, both fitness-wise and mentally.

“I’ve always held a good opinion of him.”

Gosford Race Club vice-chairman Michael Griffiths and John O’Connor, Hull’s biggest supporters, share in the ownership of the now Cosmic Force four-year-old, who has been sidelined since easily winning the Springboard To Fame Plate (1175m) as a two-year-old at Grafton’s showpiece July carnival in 2024.

“We gave him a good spell after Grafton, and he went like a rocket in winning his first trial back at Hawkesbury in November that year,” Hull said.

“But we knew something was wrong when he ran last at his next trial at Rosehill Gardens the following month.”

Hull sent Ferinzo for a scintigraphy scan which revealed the gelding had a fractured pelvis.

So began a painstaking series of events before a meticulous Hull was completely satisfied Ferinzo was ready to resume his career.

“He had four months off, but another scintigraphy scan showed he still wasn’t right,” Hull said.

“We gave him more time off, and I wanted to be sure that his injury was totally healed, so we had a third scintingraphy scan done which showed everything was clear.”

Given such a huge absence from the track, Hull was pretty proud of both himself and his staff in getting Ferinzo back, let alone kicking him off on a winning note.

“It was definitely a satisfying achievement to see him come back and do that,” he said.

“There has been a lot of time and effort put into the horse by the staff and our farrier,” he said.

“Just as important as his win is the fact that Ferinzo has pulled up great.

“He licked his feed bin up overnight.

“Ferinzo is a lovely animal, and it’s a matter now of ironing out his creases.

“Because he was out of action for 18 months, he has plenty to catch up on and is still learning what racing is all about.

“That was a nice field yesterday of race fit horses, and he was able to beat them.

“Ferinzo has a good horse’s constitution, and we’ll work out what to do with him as we go.

“But we have to iron out those creases with him if he is to rise to the grade I feel he is capable of getting to.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 16, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS