GOSFORD trainer Jake Hull yesterday helped his home track get the final tick-off for an eagerly-awaited resumption next week - and trained a winner as well.
Hull sent four horses to special jumpouts on the “new” course proper under the watchful eye of RacingNSW stewards Tom Moxon and Jack Marshall, who gave the “thumbs up” for Gosford’s first meeting in nine months on Saturday.
Later at Tamworth the former jockey posted his sixth winner of the season (and 28th overall) when $2.60 second favorite Rathoran broke through in the Super Maiden Plate (1200m).
Gosford Race Club chief executive Daniel Lacey declared “all systems go” for The Entertainment Grounds to stage its first meeting since May 16 last year.
“We had 26 horses contest jumpouts on the course proper, and everything went really well,” Lacey said.
“Senior jockeys Jay Ford and Grant Buckley came to Gosford, and were very happy with the new camber and the track in general.
“So too were our stewards who gave the all clear for us to begin racing again.
“Waiting another month has indeed been the right thing to do as we weren’t ready to resume in January.
“The new turf has now knitted properly, and the track is in outstanding order.
“It’s been a long wait, and finally we are ready to race again. We’re all very excited.”
In a joint venture between the Gosford club and RacingNSW, major works were undertaken which included the home turn being cambered to a gradient of six per cent to maximise competitive racing, along with remediation of the reverse camber in the home straight, removal of undulations in the track and a new parade ring.
Hull couldn’t attend the jumpouts as he was on his way to Tamworth, but confirmed there were glowing reports about the course proper.
“Unfortunately, I won’t have a runner on Saturday, but wish the club well and I’m sure the meeting will be a great success,” he said this morning.
As for his Tamworth winner, he described Rathoran as “the most frustrating horse I have trained”.
“I wouldn’t normally hold on to nine-start maidens, but this bloke has shown me a lot,” he said.
“He had been placed four times, including his first-up second at Tamworth on January 23.
“Rathoran has been a slow maturer, and still has to improve his racing manners.
“He has been walking out of the barriers as he did yesterday.
“Full marks to Mitchell Bell, who didn’t sit back and wait for something to happen.
“After Rathoran settled near the rear, he made a move approaching the 600m and put him right into the race.
“Undoubtedly it was a winning move.”
Rathoran took the lead in the straight and then showed plenty of grit to hold out a late surge from runner-up Pappiana ($6).
The four-year-old son of Shalaa, a $280,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race sale as an early two-year-old, had been placed on four occasions leading up to yesterday’s breakthrough.
“The ability has always been there, and hopefully winning his first race will now give him the confidence to go to the next level,” Hull added.
Story John Curtis, February 15, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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