by Tony Logan
Humbletonian Day at Maryborough last week provided an afternoon of racing highlights – a victory on debut by the 2yo trotter Mascott for breeder/trainer/owner Jayne Davies, a similar result for the impeccably bred, 2yo colt Best Of Beauty for the Gleeson-Cameron army and trainer Emma Stewart and later in the day, from totally out of left field, a new track record of 1:54.2 posted by smart 2YO gelding Dragontown for trainer Brooke Hansen and owners, the Martello and Webster families.
But for my money, the true spirit of Humbletonian Day was captured with the victory of moderately performed Terang trained pacer, Tobi John in the Harness Breeders Victoria C0 Vicbred Pace.
It was Tobi John’s 23rd attempt to come up trumps for Terang breeder-owner-trainer Darren Cole when he faced the starter for the 1690 metre contest. The 5yo gelded son of Julius Caesar NZ and unraced (Golden Greek USA) mare Dantoinette had managed just 4 minor placings during his two years of racing and with a 6th birthday imminent, it seemed that time could be running out for the horse to make good.
Drawn the inside of the second line, Tobi John enjoyed a soft trip three back on the pegs for most of the journey until halfway up the home straight when driver Tim McLean spied a gap and urged his charge through the middle of four runners to claim victory by a half-head.
“It’s a huge thrill and not something we expected,” explained Cole at the presentation ceremony. “It was only a last minute thought to put him today’s race and while he tries hard, to tell the truth, he’s really not much good.”
“We haven’t bred many horses over the years, Cole continued. “Only a few really but Tobi John is now the first winner we have ever bred. He’s named after our son, not because we thought the horse was going to be anything special but just to give him a family name.”
In addition to the winner’s cheque of $2700 the Cole family also pocketed a Vicbred first win owners bonus of $3500, a $250 breeders bonus courtesy of HBV and a further $250 bonus from the Maryborough Harness Club for winning breeders on course – a great payday by any measure and especially pleasing when it arrives nearly six years after your foal is born.
Hoofnote:
The old saying “one man’s fortune is another man’s misery” pretty well sums up the race.
While the Cole team was deservedly over the moon with the result, you couldn’t help but feel for the connections of the 43 start maiden Big Bang Raj, which was forced to retire from the contest when it’s sulky tyre was punctured in a racing incident.
Punters who’d supported the John Justice trained & driven gelding into even-money favourite were also left lamenting so for everybody concerned, here’s hoping Big Bang Raj can shortly break his maiden status.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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