It was a case of perseverance paying dividends when Fritzy Boy won the Wanganui Guineas on Saturday for owner-breeder John Jury.
Fritzy Boy is the third foal of her dam Fritzy Girl but the first two foals provided little encouragement for Jury, a Wairarapa farmer.
Fritzy Girl's firstfoal was a colt by Al Akbar but had no future as a racehorse, Jury said. The second foal, by Towkay, was simply too slow.
Fritzy Boy, however, does want to be a racehorse.
The gelding, by Brilliance, made a winning debut at Foxton on August 30 and backed up nine days later to win the $60,000 Wanganui Guineas (1320m).
Fritzy Boy is from the Wairarapa stable of Alby MacGregor at Opaki, outside Masterton, and after the win he described the horse as probably the most promising he has trained.
MacGregor has been training for nearly 40 years. The 60-year-old is best known as the trainer of top jumper Bodle which won 17 races.
MacGregor has not rushed Fritzy Boy. "We didn't break him until he was a late 2-year-old - this is his first [racing] preparation." he said.
"We just left him to mature a bit."
MacGregor said Fritzy Boy showed promise from the outset and the Wanganui Guineas was on the agenda before he made his debut.
Fritzy Boy settled three back on the inside and although he got into cramped quarters as the home turn approached he quickly loomed up to the leaders at the top of the straight.
He reached the lead soon after and went on to score by a length in the hands of Paul Taylor.
