Five-year-old gelding Furioso won his maiden hurdle at Pakenham on Sunday, and in doing so registered his first win since joining the Henry Dwyer stable almost twelve months ago. In just his third try over the obstacles – his first this preparation – the son of Atlante jumped confidently, winning the 3200-metre event by a length in heavy conditions. Jockey Willie McCarthy gave the gelding a gun ride, settling in the second half of the field before navigating towards the outside fence for the final pair of jumps in the home straight. McCarthy had plenty of horse under him and kept the inexperienced jumper’s mind on the job, finishing too strongly for his rivals to claim an impressive win. The star jumps jockey was thrilled with the improvement this promising jumper has displayed. “That was super. He’s definitely a lot bigger and stronger than he was when I rode him at the back end of last year”, he said post-race. “He jumped very, very well. Probably the best he’s jumped since I started riding him”. Trainer Dwyer said the best is yet to come with this jumper. “I thought there was plenty of improvement to come. There definitely is which is even better”, Dwyer said. “On a wet track at Warrnambool, by the time Thursday rolls around, he’s going to run a nice race in that novice hurdle event.”
Furioso will have a quiet fortnight on the track and treadmill before his next assignment at Warrnambool on the fourth of May.