The script didn’t go exactly to plan, but the result did as promising sprinter Our Kobison kicked off his five-year-old season with a no-nonsense victory at Randwick, earning high praise from jockey James Mcdonald in the process.
Not only did the Angela Davies-trained gelding get the job done in Saturday’s Ranvet Handicap but he ran smart time, clocking 57.64 seconds for the 1000m, just outside God Of Thunder’s class record.
An on-pace runner, Our Kobinson ($1.80 bookmakers fav) wasn’t the best to begin, ending up in a trailing position before McDonald produced him on the outside and he swept home to score, getting the better of Le Melody ($21) by a length with Sebonack ($7.50) the same margin away third.
“He was a little bit awkward early, it was a higgledy-piggledy start,” McDonald said
“We were probably a length-and-a-half back further than we anticipated but he travelled really fresh and strong and he’s a damn good horse with a great turn of foot. He has come back in good order.
“The race today will bring him on immensely. He was a little bit fresh.”
The winner of six of his 10 starts, Our Kobison has been patiently managed by Davies.
She was thrilled to see him show another string to his bow by coming from off the speed and had no doubt he could raise the bar a little higher still.
“I honestly don’t know how good he is, but I’m sure he will get to stakes grade,” Davies said.
“He is going to improve so much off that run and if you watch the race closely, James looked after him.
“James only asked him to do enough to win and he has still run those good sectionals, so it is very exciting going towards the spring carnival.”
Davies will consult her owners and McDonald before making a decision on Our Kobinson’s next start but the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 24 is a likely option.
“It’s going to be a bit of a decision. We will talk to James and see what he thinks as well,” she said.
“We may look at running him in the Show County.”