Ferness had not seen the Richmond track before last Friday night's heats of the Ladbrokes Richmond Derby but the exciting prospect shrugged off that lack of experience in toppling the 2023 final winner Zipping Novak in his heat.
Prepared by Ron Evans, a virtual newcomer to the training ranks, Ferness jumped smartly and led all the way to beat Zipping Novak by just over a length in 29.51.
Those impressive figures for the 520m trip were second quickest of the Derby heats, and compared well with the time standard set by the vastly experienced Go Bears, who notched his 21st win by leading throughout in 29.42.
Evans, who is based at Bathurst, purchased Ferness and his almost as talented litter brother Ando Prince from Wallerawang breeder Peter Stanford as 11-month-old puppies.
"Ando Prince has had four starts for a win and three placings and while he can go as good as Ferness he is a bit temperamental,'' Evans said.
"Before I started training I learned the ropes by working with the experienced trainer Rick Board for three or four years.
"I also gained a lot of knowledge from another successful trainer, Ashley Dwyer, so I consider he and Rick to be my mentors."
"But my right hand man is my 37-year-old son Adam, who caught Ferness for me at Richmond and assists me daily in the kennels.
"Other trainers like Jeremy McGrath who gave me a drag lure and Al Provost, who presented me with my first leads and muzzles, have also been supportive.
"In fact when Ferness had his first race at Wentworth Park I didn't know how to get there and Jeremy arranged for me to follow him all the way to the track.
"I broke Ferness in at Lithgow, educating him by asking questions non-stop of established trainers."
Evans said: "His run at Wenty was good because he didn't jump too well but he got away cleanly in his Derby heat at Richmond.
"Unfortunately Ferness has drawn box five in the Derby final so I have got to get him to come out smartly again.''
Thayne Green, the 84-year-old New Zealander who part-owned famous thoroughbred Sunline, had a winner at Wentworth Park on Saturday night when the Wayne Sugars-trained Unique Sunrise notched his fourth win in just 14 races.
