Trainer Dominic Sutton had mixed emotions as he watched his stable star Feroce go within a nose of victory in Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) won by Private Life.
The son of Super Seth was momentarily held up which was more than enough to cost the rookie trainer a Classic within his first 12 months of training.
But on the bright-side there are now lucrative targets in the offing for the smart three-year-old, who could possibly have his next run in the A$500,000 Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2 or the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 26 at Randwick.
“It was mixed emotions to be honest,” Sutton reflected after the race. “I felt like he was there to win and even watching him through the line, he still had a handful of horse.
“So yes, while a little frustrated I am super proud of the horse and the team to get him there in such great order.
“He’s had a faultless preparation so far and it’s just frustrating to get done by such a small margin.”
Sutton said he had been fortunate to have the right people around him as he navigates the business of training after an apprenticeship that included stints with Chris Waller and as Assistant Trainer for Leon and Troy Corstens.
“It’s been a good ride so far and I’m very fortunate to have the right team around me,” Sutton said.
“When you surround yourself with the right people it makes it a lot easier. You need the horses as well, so to have a horse like him in the barn, he’s obviously got a lot of ability. He’s taken a little bit of time to put it all together.
“He got pushed back into a pocket by Rue De Royale and I think in the end that’s what’s cost us between winning and running second.”
Feroce was coming off a lead-up fourth in the Gr.3 Guineas Prelude (1400m) and now has a brace of victories and three placings from his seven appearances.
Options now include the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the Carbine Club Stakes while connections are also interested in gaining a slot in the $3.5million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8.
As one of ten bonus eligible races, connections share in a $1 million bonus pool should they win the Carbine Club and run top three in the NZB Kiwi.
“There’s a few guys in New Zealand that are sniffing around for a slot in the NZB Kiwi so we’ll probably put a circle around that race,” Sutton said.
“He’s obviously a gelding so we can chase the prize money with him.”
Bred by Pencarrow Stud, Feroce was purchased out of Kilgravin Lodge’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $160,000 by Sutton and McKeever Bloodstock last year.
Feroce is a son of the unraced O’Reilly mare Corinthia and is a half-brother to the Listed Karaka Classic winner Siracusa and a member of the famed Eight Carat family.
