Talented three-year-old sprinter Ferrando looks to have booked a trip to Sydney care of an all the way win in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Ferrando notched his third straight victory and his fourth career success from six starts.
The son of Fast 'N' Famous was expertly handled by apprentice Ryan Elliot, who ensured Ferrando pinged from the gates before controlling the tempo to prevail from the fast-finishing Royal Fashion, with Kingsman back in third.
“He has the makings of a good horse,” Graeme Rogerson said. “He’s not there yet, but I’ve had some great sprinters and this horse is up there with them.
“He’s going to Sydney. How he gets there we will sit down and work it out.”
Rogerson said the likely target for Ferrando in Sydney was the A$600,000 Gr.2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 8.
“He’ll run in the three-year-old race and then we might try for the Stradbroke or the Doomben 10,000. We’ll just see.”
Rogerson was full of praise for his winning apprentice, who notched his first Group victory.
“He’s a good boy. He’s got a lot of faith in the horse. He eased him, eased him and I don’t think he asked him to go in the finish.”
Elliot was understandably delighted to get his first Group winner.
“It feels special when it’s on this horse for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson,” Elliot said. “I’ve done a lot of the work with him, so it’s a great result.” – NZ Racing Desk
Photo by Trish Dunell
