Grafton, Albury previews: Rivals to feel the ‘Rath’ of Hull gelding

Former jockey, turned trainer, Jake Hull takes a string hand north from his Gosford base to Grafton on Monday including the impressive last start winner Rathoran.

Rathoran winning recently at Tamworth. Photo: Bradley Photos

A trainer’s faith and an owner’s patience has helped turn Central Coast gelding Rathoran from a mere ‘nine-start maidener’ to a horse ready and able to surge through his grades.

The Jake Hull-trained four-year-old ended his 2024 racing campaign at Newcastle on July 16, beating just two runners home.

Fast forward to 2025 and Rathoran was judged as good in defeat, first-up at Tamworth, as he was when winning his Super Maiden there on Valentine’s day.

Rathoran’s next mission is Monday’s Bands, Brews and BBQ’s Class 1 Handicap (1190m) at Grafton.

“He’s been a hard horse to work out but he has always shown me so much ability,’’ Hull said.

“Last prep, I was trying to step him up in distance because he sort of looked like he wanted further but I figured out with him that he is just a ‘get-back horse’ over the short trips and that’s him.

“So I think we’ve got him worked out this prep and his two runs have both been super.

“He was very unlucky not to win first-up and I thought it was a pretty tough win second-up, both in Super Maidens.

“It’s not often we hang on to nine-start maideners but he’s just shown us so much ability.

“I know he has it there but it was just taking a little while for me to work him out.’’

Rathoran is a son of Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner, Shalaa, best known in Victoria as the sire of Moir Stakes winner, Mornington Glory and the five times stakes-winning sprinter Recommendation.

Shalaa’s Sydney raced progeny include the likes of former crack two-year-olds Semillon and Shaquero as well at the Chris Waller import Welwal.

Rathoran after winning recently at Tamworth. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Rathoran’s new stablemate, Quinky Deel, will be both a partner and a rival in Monday’s ‘Get Out Stakes’.

The race marks Quinky Deel’s 15th career start but his first for the Gosford-based Hull.

“He is going surprisingly well,’’ he said.

“He has had a couple of course proper jumpouts as well at Gosford so it looks like he has only had the one trial but he’s had a few good hit-outs.

“I can’t see him running a bad race off his work and his jumpouts at home.’’

Quinky Deel perhaps has no peer, at Grafton, when it comes to pedigree.

The Kingstar Farm bred gelding is by the Triple Crown winner Dundeel and the sixth foal of Nathan Tinkler’s dual stakes-winner, Marquardt.

Hull meanwhile will make a late call on whether or not to load the young and exciting Zouking onto the float for a scheduled trip to Grafton.

The regally-bred bay was dealt the outside draw in the otherwise entirely suitable Valley Protective Services Maiden Plate over 1015m.

Zouking’s luck of the draw has been all bad so far.

The Widden Stud born and raised three-year-old jumped from 11 of 12 in his debut at Muswellbrook at the start of the month.

“It was probably a little bit of trainer error,’’ Hull said.

“It was his first start and he had a wide barrier, I probably shouldn’t have run him.

“The barrier got him beat and he did run into what looks to be a handy one and acquitted himself very well.’’

That handy one in question is Wedding Planner, a Gerry Harvey owned daughter of I Am Invincible trained by the embattled Anthony Cummings.

“The wide barrier makes it harder on Monday, all we can do is wait and see if there are any scratchings and go from there,’’ Hull said.

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SPEEDY mare Brial Rose aims to deliver what would likely be well be her last ‘country win’ racing at home at Albury on Monday prior to a 1000 km round trip to Sydney.

The Ron Stubbs-trained daughter of Denman will take her tally of wins to three if successful in the Dux Albury Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap (1000m).

That would be just enough, but not too many, to see her make a second TAB Highway appearance.

“Without doubt,’’ Stubbs said.

“Obviously her form has to warrant it. If she comes back the way she did last prep, or hopefully even a little improvement, it would certainly be on the radar.’’

Brial Rose’s first Highway tilt was at Randwick on Winx Stakes day in 2024 where she squared off against the likes of Danny Williams’ trio, Atmospheric Rock, Kreon and Saturday’s Highway winner Exit Fee.

Brial Rose. Photo: Bradley Photos.

“It was a strong Highway to the point that we almost pulled out and I am glad we went in the end, even though it wasn’t productive prizemoney-wise, it showed you she is capable of,’’ Stubbs said.

Stubbs, a frequent Country Championships participant, is naturally eager to see how Sargeant Stan returns when he steps out in the Thank You Ann McHardy Maiden Handicap (1000m) after undergoing a gelding operation.

“He is actually well-bred on the damside but he was never going to be a commercial stallion and he was a little bit cheeky so it was always the plan (to geld him).

“His work has been up to the mark and I was happy with his trial. I tossed the coin whether to go 1000m or 1175m, we opted for the 1175m, I hope I’ve made the right call there.’’

Sargeant Stan is out of the well-named mare, Whitney, who was the eighth foal of Clarry’s Conners’ bonny mare Staging.

That being so, Sargeant Stan counts the Group 1 performers Duporth, Excites and Tickets as siblings.

Sargeant Stan will have company in Monday’s maiden sprint from stablemate, five-year-old chestnut Madam Doesfly who is scheduled for a long-awaited debut.

“She’s had three trials and there has been good improvement in each trial so you just hope we can get another step forward with her on Monday,’’ says Stubbs.

“We have no expectations over the short trips with her but in saying that, her last trial at Wagga, she showed a good turn of foot so it will be interesting.”

Originally published as Grafton, Albury previews: Rivals to feel the ‘Rath’ of Hull gelding