The Caspar Fownes-trained Winning Icey had not yet won a race in four starts when Luke Ferraris landed the ride on him on June 22 at the end of last season.
Ferraris is now unbeaten in three starts aboard the Hinchinbrook four-year-old Australian-bred gelding, who is unlikely to stop here.
In Ferraris’ first two rides on him the gelding won by half-a-length and then a neck, both over 1200m.
However, at Happy Valley last night, again over 1200m, Ferraris had him much handier than usual and the gelding displayed excellent cruising speed just off the lead.
He joined the leader rounding the turn and then accelerated away from them under a driving ride.
They crossed the line 1,75 lengths clear to convert joint favouritism.
It was an excellent effort considering it was the gelding’s first run in class 3 company.
Winning Icey recorded the best time of the four races over that trip on the night.
Now that they have found suitable tactics for him he could go on from here.
