Gary Harley – Wrap – 28.01.23

Gosford trainer Angela Davies is excited about the future of her boom three-year-old Our Kobison, a brilliant winner on debut at Newcastle on Saturday. The gelding contested the Avid PM Midway Maiden Plate (900m) and was the best backed horse all day.

Corporate bookmakers were hammered when prices were framed with Our Kobison firming from $3 to a starting price of $1.75. Aaron Bullock had the mount, and after a moderate start Our Kobison accelerated quickly to sit outside the leader. Bullock did not release the brakes until the final 200m, and he sprinted quickly to win by more than two lengths. Once well clear of the opposition Bullock was kind to the winner over the last 50m. Our Kobison was backing up after a quiet Wyong barrier trial only four days before the race.

Davies, who has trained many talented horses during her career including 2020 Provincial Championship winner Through The Cracks was visibly excited following the race. “He is very exciting and has promised us so much in trackwork, and his recent trial was outstanding as he was never off the bit. I have a couple of very fast horses in the stable and he is as good as them when they work with him. Our Kobison can be hard to manage on the track but has great promise. I will see how he pulls up and then decide if we give him one more run before a break or send him to the paddock now. I could tip him out now for five or six weeks, I don’t want to overcook him as I believe the horse is special” Davies said.

The trainer also said that Through The Cracks who has been injury plagued during his career is ready to return to the stable for his final preparation.

Local trainers Mark Minervini and Paul Perry both tasted success at the meeting. Minervini’s mare Star Impact, recently purchased by the trainer for clients gave the latter a quick return on their investment in the Sage Painting Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m). Mikayla Weir had no hesitation in taking the four-year-old to the front soon after the start and the Hunter Valley based jockey rated the mare perfectly.

“Star Impact was offered for sale and some of the owners were also clients of mine and stayed in the horse. A lovely ride by Mikayla and the mare won easily” Minervini said.

The Paul Perry trained Olympic Gaze landed a decent plunge when he won the 1850m Strathayr Benchmark 64 Handicap. $9 was bet about the winner and the price continued to tumble in the lead up to the race and he went to the barrier as the $3.40 favourite. Former Victorian jockey Lewis German, who recently moved to Hawkesbury was aboard Olympic Gaze. It was the winners third success on the track and his fourth overall.

Aaron Bullock completed a double for the day when he steered $3 favourite Show No Compassion to a two-length win in the Australian Bloodstock Maiden Handicap (1300m). Bullock has ridden 74 ½ winners for the current season with only 6 months of the season completed.