Frankie Ferocious locked in for 2024 The Rising Sun

By Jordan Gerrans

QBRED star Frankie Ferocious has a lofty hit list for 2024.

The Queensland-owned and bred speedster already ticked off the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire on Saturday evening at Menangle.

The next target is Saturday’s Grand Circuit Miracle Mile at Menangle.

The 2024 The Rising Sun during the Queensland Constellations later this year is the latest to be added to his hit list after the team behind the gelding accepted an invite into the race.

Frankie Ferocious was bred and is raced by the Crosby family in the Sunshine State who trained him in his first 20 starts before he recently transferred to leading trainer Jason Grimson in Sydney.

The multiple Grand Circuit-winning horseman Grimson feels the Group 1 $355,000 The Rising Sun on July 13 at Albion Park is a perfect option for his new stable star.

“I think The Rising Sun is a suitable race for him,” Grimson said.

“He is pretty versatile as a horse so I don’t think it will matter where he draws or anything. I think he will be very hard to beat in whatever he races in.”

Frankie Ferocious is the first horse to be invited to the race for the 2024 edition.

Racing Queensland Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick believes Frankie Ferocious will be the first cab off the rank for what shapes as an exciting field.

“We are looking forward to seeing Frankie Ferocious back at Albion Park later this year,” Brick said.

“We are rapt that Frankie Ferocious, Jason and the Crosbys have accepted this invitation as he has shown his talent and speed over the last few months across Victoria and New South Wales.

“We saw the quality of Frankie Ferocious in his early days racing in the Sunshine State and we are glad to see him back later in 2024 during the Queensland Constellations carnival.”

Frankie Ferocious accepting the invite grants the gelding ballot exempt for the race.

In a change to the format to The Rising Sun from previous editions, Racing Queensland and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club will issue up to eight invites for the race this year.

The field will include two three-year-old’s, the winner of The Queensland Sun and the balance of the field will be made up of nominations.

In previous years of The Rising Sun, three-year-old runners have been eligible for a $100,000 win bonus.

That will remain this year but there will also be another bonus on offer. 

In 2024 they will also be eligible for the $25,000 place bonus should they run second or third.

Former Queensland trainer Bill Crosby bred Frankie Ferocious before his son Ben trained him to his first 20 starts.

The Crosby family are over the moon with the way their pride and joy has raced since joining the Grimson team.

“We are rapt,” Ben said.

“It was always the long-term plan as we always thought he was up to these but he just had a few niggles through last season.

“He showed he could run a couple of really quick miles and we just thought if he was ever going to win a good race it would be over a mile. We thought this might be the one.”

Frankie Ferocious claimed the Group 2 4YO Bonanza at Melton in early February before he scored as a short-priced favourite at Menangle a fortnight later.

They were both a perfect build up before he nabbed his maiden Group 1 in the Chariots Of Fire on Saturday evening at Menangle.

Grimson closely watched Frankie Ferocious race during the 2023 winter and while he thought he was a talented horse, the renowned winner of big races has been shocked with how well he has gone on the big stage in Sydney.

“He is coming along pretty good,” Grimson said.

“He has definitely shocked me with how good he actually is.

“He is pretty special this one. I did not think he would come down here and do what he has done.”

Grimson described Frankie Ferocious as ‘in the zone’ at the moment and noted that he has fitted in well with how he works his horses.

Frankie Ferocious drew the second row in 10 for Saturday’s Miracle Mile.

He is rated as a $7.50 chance as of Tuesday morning with the bookmakers.

“I know he is drawn bad but he is definitely good enough to win it with his speed,” Grimson said.

“Hopefully they can run along and he gets his chance. There will be speed on from the start.”

Frankie Ferocious joins fellow QBRED pacer Speak The Truth and the Queensland-trained Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile field.