Frankie produces top trial at Menangle

By Adam Hamilton

Chariots Of Fire winner Frankie Ferocious signalled another huge campaign with a blistering Menangle trial win yesterday (Wednesday).

The Jason Grimson-trained star was having his second trial back and driver Cam Hart let him open up through the middle stages on his way to a 1min49.5sec mile.

Frankie Ferocious, who went straight to the front from barrier two, ran his splits in 26.8, 28.7, 26.9 and 27.1sec.

Grimson wants to keep the son of Captaintreacherous fresh and will give him just one lead-up run ahead of his first major target, the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 13.

Beyond that, Frankie Ferocious is clear pre-post favourite for the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

His spot in the race was confirmed yesterday when the Aussie TAB used its slot to lock him in.

Grimson is expected to head to Brisbane with a team of “10 to 12” after Saturday night’s Menangle meeting where his star speedster Hi Manameisjeff dominates betting at $1.25 in the Golden Mile.

The injury-plagued star was first-up since making a break in the early stages of the Miracle Mile when he won easily at Menangle two weeks ago.

But the race came at a cost when he galloped in the score-up and was placed out of the draw in mobile races.

It doesn’t matter so much at Menangle with all horses off the front row in most races, but he will need to do everything right on Saturday to get back in the draw for his Albion Park targets, headed by the $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint on July 20.

Grimson has talented former Kiwi mare Illavabubbles (gate one) and Hot And Treacherous (three) against Hi Manameisjeff on Saturday night.