TRAINERS BOOK-END TAREE PROGRAM

THEIR odds were in stark contrast – but it mattered nought!

Gosford’s Jake Hull with $1.40 hotpot Redzero and Wyong’s Shaun Harvey with $41 bolter Albanian Star ensured provincial trainers book-ended yesterday’s Taree program.

Former jockey Hull made it 47 career wins, including 13 this season, when Redzero broke through in the Maiden Handicap (1007m) at her fourth start, whilst former Victorian Albanian Star’s first-up victory in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1007m) gave Harvey, who has only a small team, his third winner this season.

Ben Looker partnered Redzero in his defeat of Newcastle trainer Barry Lawrence’s game Love You Anyway ($7), and Jenny Duggan had the mount on Albanian Star in her defeat of Cupid’s Kiss ($17) and Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s The Piccolino ($8).

Redzero, a three-year-old daughter of Hull’s major client John O’Connor’s underrated stallion Red Henno (by Redoute’s Choice), had been runner-up at Scone and Gosford at her first two starts this preparation.

“She has been racing well, and I just wanted to give her a ‘kill’ and get her Maiden out of the way,” Hull said today.

“Whilst her winning margin wasn’t great, she floated once she got past the runner-up.

“I’ll see how Redzero comes through the race before deciding whether to continue on for now or give her a break.

“I’m sure she is a filly with upside.”

Hull is doing a terrific job with Red Henno’s progeny bred by O’Connor, and says his owner would be pleased to hear from broodmare owners interested in sending their mares to the stallion.

Unfortunately, the trainer is likely to lose another of Red Henno’s promising progeny, the recent impressive Grafton debut winner Spectorious, to Hong Kong.

“Of course I will be sorry to lose Spectorious if the sale is finalised, but John puts a lot of money into the industry and it’s good to see him get a good offer for the horse,” Hull said.

On a brighter note, Hull is pleased with the early progress of stable stars Ferinzo and Valilee.

“They are just starting pacework, and are in tremendous order,” he said.

Meanwhile, Harvey also is doing a good job - with online buys.

The Wyong trainer scored at Port Macquarie on March with $19 chance Blue Dane at her first start for him after the six-year-old mare had been purchased online for $3750.

Yesterday’s winner Albanian Star is also a six-year-old mare, and was purchased last year by her new owner for $6750 through Bloodstockauction.com.

“Albanian Star (by Scissor Kick) had won three races in Victoria, and I gave her two starts at Taree and Canberra last winter before sending her for a good spell,” Harvey said.

“I had watched a number of her Victorian races on video, and felt she would be suited with blinkers first-up yesterday.

“She has been running some nice sectionals on the track, and I gave her a chance on resumption.

“Jenny (Duggan) has been riding Albanian Star work, and deserved the opportunity to win on her.”

Harvey has only a couple of horses currently in racing trim, but now has 10 on his books.

“I got a yearling from the Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast in January, and another three at the Inglis HTBA sale in Sydney last Sunday,” he said.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS