Luke Fernie believes he has the right winning formula for Devoted and hopes he can test that theory when the six-year-old tackles elite opposition at Ascot Saturday week.
Devoted is back in the west and on home soil and familiar territory once again after Luke Fernie purchased the Xtravagant gelding for $105,000 in an online sale earlier in June.
Three years ago, for co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams, Devoted ran third in the WA Guineas (1600m) before reaching career peaks when transferred to Michael Grantham.
Under the former jockey’s guidance, Devoted progressed to take out a Listed double with success in the Raconteur Stakes (1400m) and Belmont Guineas (1600m).
Following a luckless 2022 Ascot Pinnacles campaign he teamed up with John Leek Jnr in Melbourne and scored one win and a second from seven starts under his care.
Back with Fernie since September, Devoted won a 1000m barrier trial on Monday, coming from last and sailing along the fence comfortably in the five-horse heat.
It was nothing groundbreaking as far as gallops can go, but Fernie took something out of it and said it was the perfect hit out before resuming next week.
Fernie is optimistic fresh is the way to go for Devoted and the approach taken will give the half-a-million-dollar stakes earner his best chance of coming back a winner.
“I’m really happy with him,” Fernie said to Racing WA.
“In the back of our mind we might go to the Railway first up if the runs there, if not the Carbine on the same day.
“I’m sort of leaning that way at the moment, I feel like he went really good today (Trial).
“His work behind the scenes has been super, so everything is on track for him to go really well.
“He’s had a bit of time off but has come to hand pretty quickly.
“I feel like he runs his best races fresh and if we only get one good one out of him it will worth having a throw at the stumps at a big one.
“We’ll see how it all unfolds over the next week and come up with a plan.
“After today (Monday) I’m pretty happy with him and he had a good hit out Saturday morning.”
Tabtouch all-in markets has Devoted $51 for the Railway.
Meanwhile, in Saturday’s Listed Placid Ark Stakes (1200m), Fernie will be represented by Keep Ita Mystery and Ripper Farooq, but he’s sweating on stable mate and fourth emergency Skull Bone And Pig gaining a start.
“I feel like Skull Bone And Pig could be one of the better horses in the race, but he hasn’t got a run,” Fernie said.
Keep Ita Mystery has drawn barrier 12 and will be ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter.
The War Chant gelding is currently $41 with Tabtouch.
Ripper Farooq, at $18, will jump from barrier 17. Pat Carbery has been booked for the ride.
Fernie and Johnston-Porter combined to win last year’s Placid Ark Stakes with Ripcord, who started from the widest gate, barrier 14.
Fernie said Ripcord is due to fly back to Perth on Friday and will either contest the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) or the Gold Rush (1400m) after a winless Melbourne campaign.