VALILEE BACK IN WINNING FORM AS HULL LOOKS AHEAD

JAKE Hull is hoping his home track triumph with Valilee yesterday trumpets an exciting start to the new year.

Valilee ($2.25 favorite) was too nippy for his rivals in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m), boosting his record to three wins from four starts.

With regular rider Mitchell Bell on vacation, talented Wyong apprentice Anna Roper substituted and didn’t make a mistake.

Whilst not the first to begin, Valilee quickly got into stride and led throughout to comfortably defeat Apollo Ridge ($13) and Inazuma Boy ($13).

Under 61.5kg topweight, he ran 57.06 seconds, quicker than the 57.58secs he clocked in his brilliant debut victory at home in a Provincial Maiden Plate in July.

Valilee suffered his only defeat when runner-up to Runranirun in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at Hawkesbury on December 14.

“He was a bit underdone on resumption that day, stepped a bit slowly and was beaten by a fitter in-form horse,” Hull said today.

“I wanted to be sure Valilee stepped cleanly yesterday because of his outside draw, and mentioned to Anna to have an attendant with her in the stalls.

“Valilee did a good job from the wide barrier and big weight. He is at his best when free flowing out in front, and Anna didn’t have to pull the whip and said he was getting stronger over the last 100m.

“I feel we have no option now but to go to town for either a midweek or a Midway, and I’m sure he is up to it.

“Tracks such as Warwick Farm and Canterbury will suit him where he can use his speed and kick off that.

“When Valilee was purchased as a yearling, we never thought he would be winning 1000m races, but given all his dramas (stress fracture as a two-year-old, fractured his skull in an incident on the water walker and needed throat surgery to rectify a breathing issue), he is doing a fantastic job for us.

“He might be able to manage 1200m on the tighter tracks, but perhaps not on the bigger tracks such as Royal Randwick.”

Whereas former jockey Hull, who is making a great first of his training career and posted his 39^th victory (six so far this season) yesterday, is yet to plan Valilee’s next target, he has plenty to occupy him in the next few weeks.

He has nominated Rathoran for Thursday’s Inverell Cup (1400m), and will make a decision on a start prior to acceptances in the morning.

As well, Hull is taking Lord Vettori to Taree on Friday for a Class 1 Handicap (1250m).

After six minor placings, Lord Vettori broke through first-up at Grafton on November 30 before finishing a good second to Hawkesbury trainer Steve O’Halloran’s Royalify on Newcastle’s Beaumont track on December 16, conceding the winner 2.5kg.

Hull is especially looking forward to finally getting his talented but lightly-raced four-year-old Ferinzo back to the races next month.

Ferinzo hasn’t raced since winning the 2YO Springboard to Fame Plate (1175m) at Grafton in July last year and, after a lengthy stint on the sidelines, has trialled twice and is ready to resume his two-start career.

“He won his second trial (845m at Wyong) easily just before Christmas, and I’m excited to get him going again,” Hull said.

“The plan is to run him at Newcastle on January 15.”

HOOFNOTE: Beaumont barrier trials scheduled for January 14 have now been brought forward and will be held on January 8.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 29, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS