Ferrando leads all the way in Lightning Handicap

After a relentless all-the-way win in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Te Akau Racing Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham, Ferrando (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) has earned more than four and a half times his $40,000 purchase price at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

The speedy four-year-old went straight to the lead on Saturday and was never headed, fighting strongly down the straight to hold out the fast-finishing Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock).

“When he gets track conditions to suit him, he’s one of the best sprinters around,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said. “He’ll got to Adelaide now for the A$1 million Goodwood (May 19).

“Further down the track, I’d love to see him get a chance on a good track in the Everest. He can run time.”

Bought for $40,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, Ferrando has now won seven of his 17 starts and $180,875 in prizemoney for his owners Fatesal Holdings Ltd, D E & Mrs E M Olsen, R R Ratcliffe, Redbank Pty Ltd (Mgr: P Favretto) and G A Rogerson.

Saturday’s win was Ferrando’s second at stakes level, having previously won the Group 3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie in March of last year.

The Te Akau Racing Lightning Handicap was a quinella for Karaka graduates. Runner-up Heroic Valour, raced by the Lightning Handicap sponsors, was a $400,000 purchase at the 2015 Premier Sale.