A seasoning campaign against some of the country’s top sprinters has laid the foundations for Our Kobison to make his mark over the summer, starting in the Starlight Stakes at Rosehill.
The talented galloper had the bar raised to Group company during the spring where he finished a game second to Joliestar in the Show County Quality (1200m) and just three lengths from I Am Me in The Shorts (1100m).
The winners of both races were selected for The Everest, while trainer Angela Davies elected to give Our Kobison a short break to concentrate on some feature summer sprints.
“The Shorts was a very competitive race, and I always felt if we dropped him back a peg or two then he would be very competitive during the summer,” Davies said.
“It toughens them up a little bit having to meet those better horses and to learn how to dig deep.
“I think it has certainly seasoned him and hopefully we have a good summer with him.”
Our Kobison was given three weeks in the paddock after The Shorts and has prepared for his return with a barrier trial and jump out.
Kerrin Mcevoy has ridden him twice before for a win and a second and resumes his partnership with the five-year-old at Rosehill where he is drawn to enjoy an economical run from barrier five.
“We have probably found the right race for him and we’re very pleased with how he’s going so we expect him to race well,” Davies said.
“The only negative is, I hope we don’t get too much rain. When we’ve worked him on wet tracks at home he doesn’t seem to handle it very well. I’d prefer no worse than a soft six.”
If Our Kobison does get conditions to suit and performs to expectations, Davies plans to take him to Queensland for the Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 21.
“He can get into the Magic Millions Sprint, a $1 million race on Magic Millions day, if he wins that as he is a Queensland homebred horse,” Davies said.
“If he does well on Saturday, you’d have to think you’d take him up there and at least try.”
