Each time you talk to Todd Blowes about Noble Boy, the confidence just grows and the young trainer thinks his horse can get the job done in the Goulburn Qualifier for the Country Championships this Saturday.
The son of Bon Hoffa is 4/4 to start his career, with his last start and win being a Highway triumph at Warwick Farm three weeks ago over 1200m and the trainer says the horse has come on since then.
“I’m really happy with the way he’s going, Blowes told Justhorseracing.
“Jess (Taylor) rode him in a piece of work on Friday morning on the course proper at Queanbeyan and was rapt with how the horse went.
“The gallop was over 800m and his last 400m was in 21.8 under a hold so I couldn’t be happier with him heading into this weekend.”
Taylor has been booked to ride with James McDonald and Hugh Bowman committed to engagements in town, and Blowes says the pressure and expectation isn’t getting to his jockey…yet.
“She was fine on Friday morning.
“We had breakfast and a decent chat and she doesn’t seem fazed by the task at hand.”
This Saturday will see the four year old race beyond 1200m for the first time and that is something the trainer is very much looking forward to.
“I think he’ll comfortably get a mile with time.
“I could potentially test him at that sort of trip but it will depend on what he does this Saturday and then potentially in the Final.”
Blowes has every box ticked with his horse leading into Saturday. There’s just one box he hasn’t ticked that he’d like to.
“I don’t want to draw inside.
“He’s a big lump of a thing so an inside gate would be less than ideal. Anything from barrier six or wider would be perfect because he needs clear air and that’ll be the instructions to Jess.”
The horse is a big lump and to the eye he looks a big dope when he hits the front. The temptation is there to put the Blinkers on for this Saturday but Blowes says he’ll resist the temptation- for now.
“He’s going well enough in my opinion that he doesn’t need them for Saturday.
“But should he progress to the Final, we’ll likely trial him in Blinkers and see what sort of effect it has on him because he is still a big kid.”
And how is the young trainer feeling knowing he’s got the favourite for the race?
“I’m fine at this stage mate.
“The overriding emotion is excitement but I’m sure that’ll change come Friday.
“He’s not the best horse in the race at the moment but no doubt he’s the most exciting and I’m glad he’s in my stable.”