Jockey Fred Kersley is hoping Future Score may be the horse to rejuvenate his career after enduring a tough start to season.
Future Score lines up in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday with Kersley hoping the stars align in a bid to capture another Cup success.
Kersley’s career has been littered with ‘bad luck’, just as he seems to be getting on a roll.
A Group 2 win for Godolphin last spring in the Danehill Stakes aboard Kallos had Kersley hoping his career may be about to boom, before a freak shoulder injury in The Goodwood at Morphettville in May put him on the sidelines at a critical time in the lead-up to the spring.
Rides in feature races did not flow for Kersley during the spring and his ride on Future Score at Ballarat on Saturday will be his only mount for the day.
Kersley hopes to repay trainer Matt Cumani for his faith in the jockey and relive the pair’s success in the Listed Cranbourne Cup, then 2025m, in 2020.
“Being the boss’ hometown Cup it would mean a fair bit to both of us if we could get the job done on Saturday,” Kersley said.
“It’s been sometime since the horse has been at the rating he is at, and we know he’s proven at the top of the staying level.
“It was two years ago, virtually the same rating, second-up in the Cranbourne Cup, so hopefully the stars can align again.”
Future Score has had one run back following a winter break, finishing seventh to Bartholomeu Dias at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Kersley said Future Score had only one jump-out leading up to that contest and has improved since.
“Everything he’s shown me points to him going there and running a big race and it’s only going to be assisted by the beautiful draw and no weight,” Kersley said.
Living in Melbourne, Kersley travels to Ballarat twice a week to ride work for Cumani, depending on racing commitments and is thankful for the trainer’s support.
“He’s supported me throughout my career, and I wouldn’t know what I would have done without him,” Kersley said.
