When Jarrod Fry left school at 16, he didn’t know how to put on a horse halter.
He’s now 33 and a worthy Group 1 champion after piloting Tuvalu to victory in the $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
The five-year-old gelding didn’t take the lead until inside the final 100m.
But he went on to win comfortably by as his opponents felt the pinch of the mile feature, trainer Lindsey Smith nothing up his 11th Group 1 triumph.
2022 Toorak Handicap Replay
“That feeling is like nothing else. You always dream about it, but I’m very lucky Lindsey has been backing me and this ownership group,” Fry told Racing.com.
“This win is not just for me – all the staff have been really good to me.
“I really enjoy working with them, and it’s good to get the reward with them.
“When I was 16, I finished school and I didn’t even know how to put a halter on.
“I started out on a little pony riding bareback, and progressed to gallops and trials and races.”
All that experience helped Fry in knowing his mount would eventually make his move at the right time.
“Throughout the run I was really happy with where we were. And I was pretty confident I was going to run those down in front,” he said.
“I just needed the line to come up.”
Smith said he would strongly consider setting Tuvalu for the $1 million Railway Stakes – also a Group 1 over a mile – at Ascot on November 19.
But after Saturday’s race, he just wanted to savour the moment alongside Fry.
“He’s done a wonderful job for the stable. it’s all about Jarrod and the horses,” Smith said.
“The owners have been special people to me, but to Jarrod for all his hard work and all the other workers, it’s great.
“It’s always felt like one day he’d win one of these. And I’m glad it came sooner rather than later.
“The barrier (one) helped, with the perfect ride and the way it turned out.
“I think that (Railway Stakes) is what the plan will be. But at 63, you’ve got to savour these moments.”
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