Devoted Set to Join Luke Fernie’s Stable After Belmont Guineas Victory
In a significant move in the world of horse racing, the Belmont Guineas winner Devoted is set to join the stable of renowned trainer Luke Fernie. The five-year-old gelding was purchased by Fernie for $105,000 in an online sale earlier this week, marking an exciting addition to the trainer’s roster.
Devoted’s racing journey has been an eventful one. The son of Xtravagant first caught the attention of racing enthusiasts when he finished third in the 2021 WA Guineas (1600m) under the care of Grant and Alana Williams. However, it was his successful Belmont Guineas (1600m) campaign under the guidance of trainer Michael Grantham that truly showcased his talent.
“We are very lucky to get Devoted into the stables. We are pretty fortunate Bob moves some of his horses on. It’ll be exciting to see him back at the track.”
- Luke Fernie, in an interview with TABradio
After his Belmont Guineas triumph, Devoted was transferred to the stable of John Leek Jnr in Victoria, where he has scored one win from seven starts. Despite some luckless outings, Fernie is excited to take on the challenge of training the talented gelding.
The plan is for Devoted to continue his current preparation in Victoria, where he will be under the watchful eye of the Hayes brothers (Ben, Will, and JD), before returning to Perth for the upcoming feature races later this year.
Fernie’s stable will also be looking to make a splash in the upcoming Belmont winter season, with the mare Be Optimistic set to compete in the Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. The mare, who has returned to Fernie’s care after a fifth-place finish in the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide last month, will be aiming to deliver one of the highlight races of the season.
With the acquisition of Devoted and the promising performance of Be Optimistic, Luke Fernie’s stable is poised to make a significant impact on the upcoming horse racing events. Fans and enthusiasts alike will be eagerly anticipating the return of Devoted to the track and the exciting races that lie ahead.
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