Cranky galloper on a slow path to redemption

Cranky galloper on a slow path to redemption
Wulguru trainer Joanna Hassett has followed a patient game of anger
management to turn around the fortunes of cantankerous fallen star
Fistsoffury.
Hassett will continue with her mission to rebuild the career of the one-
time Group race contender when he lines-up in the Ladbrokes BM60
Hcp (1609m) at Cluden on Sunday.
Fistsoffury’s career has been on downward spiral for the past two years
since he won the $200,000 VG Reef at Caulfield after a fourth in the G2
VRC Sires and third in the Listed Super Impose in Melbourne.
Originally with Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, the difficult son of
Dundeel has since passed through the hands of Stuart Kendrick and
Liam Birchley without success before arriving in the North in May.
Hassett, the TTC’s 2026 Errol Sewell Award winner, said she wanted the
gelding from the time she first clapped eyes on the imposing galloper
early in the year.
In five northern starts, Fistsoffury has given Hassett a glimmer of hope
and has produced good thirds at his past two starts.
“I Love, absolutely love him. He’s my favourite now and the replacement
for old Joe’s Giggle who we retired,” Hassett said.
“There’s nothing physically wrong with him, he just has no confidence.
“I don’t know what happened in Melbourne after he won and put in a few
ordinary runs.
“Stuart Kendrick bought him and he just couldn’t get off the tail of the
field.
“My owners Steven and Donna Skilton who are Betterluck Racing
bought him for the Archer and gave him to Liam Burchley and again he
just wouldn’t go.
“He’s just an angry, angry horse.
“I actually went down there for a visit to Liam’s in February and as soon
as I saw him I said I want that horse.

“I absolutely fell in love with him, he’s such a beautiful type. Anyway he
arrived finally in May.
“He was so angry and filthy on the World. Every jockey who rode him
said the same thing. He’s just had a bad attitude.
“Coming up here, although without winning races, he’s definitely
improved with each run and he’s much happier now.
“I’ve got big open boxes with beautiful trees around them and it’s a lot
more laid back for him and he seems to be at home.
“His attitude is a 100 per cent better and he’s starting to get that
confidence back.
“When he came up in his first couple of gallops he didn’t want to stretch
out. He was physically fine.
“But he’s slowly regained his confidence and went well in a jump out and
went well in his races.
“Jo and Jenny went into the ownership with Better Luck Racing. They
still have hopes he might get to an Archer but I wouldn’t go that far
…that he’ll make that much of a resurrection.
“He’s definitely improving and he’s going to give us a bit of fun.”
“He had a jumpout on Tuesday and he went super. We put Peta
Edwards son on him Tattum (Lemos) this week.”
Hassett has booked 3kg claiming apprentice Julie Busuttin for the
gelding on Sunday to offset his 61.5kg top weight.
She said Sunday’s race would be an ideal lead-up race for Fistsoffury’s
tilt at the Bowen Cup a week later but gives him a strong chance.
“I’d love him to win and he’s in with a good chance, and it’ll be a nice
final run for the Bowen Cup which is his main target.”
Hassett will also saddle up consistent sprinter Nottington Prince in the
Signarama C2 Hcp (1000m) who has drawn wide in barrier 12.