Rosehill inside mail: Our Kobison can put Missile Stakes in range with big run in July Sprint

A return to his favourite track and preferred distance can get Our Kobison back to winning ways in the July Sprint at Rosehill.

One-time Everest fringe-dweller Our Kobison can reset his winter campaign at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday in the same race that was taken out by three-times Everest participant Eduardo five years prior.

The Angela Davies-trained five-year-old was in the mix for a spot in last year’s $20m sprint after finishing runner-up to Joliestar in the Show Country Stakes.

It wasn’t enough to entice any of the slot-holders but there are plenty of avenues open to Davies in season 2025/26 including in the first stakes race of the new racing year, the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick in three weeks time.

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Horse and trainer’s immediate focus is on Saturday’s July Sprint (1100m) after a recent trip north of the border.

The Gosford housed gelding’s first interstate test in the Lightning Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 7 was as forgettable as it was forgivable as Davies explained.

“He sat five-deep and hung off the turn, I thought he finished off terrific, he was entitled to drop out of it with where he was and how the race was run, he never got on the track,’’ Davies said.

“He is back to a favoured track and a favoured trip on Saturday.

“I could have gone to the Ramornie at 1200m but I think his pet distance is 1100m and I think Rosehill is his pet track.”

Our Kobison is set for an improved run in the July Sprint at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Davies, who boasts a phenomenal winning strike rate of 24 per cent (52 per cent when placings are added), took her career tally to 204 when Denman Star charged past his rivals to post a not entirely unexpected first-up win at Canterbury last month.

A near replica of his Golden Rose winning father, Denman, Davies’ gelding lines up in this weekend’s Midway over 1300m.

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“It’s probably an ideal distance,’’ Davies said.

“I don’t know whether the track is ideal for him because he does tend to drop the bit and get back a little bit but we will have to try and ride him accordingly.

“He has just continued to improve and continues to please me last prep and this preparation.

“We just seem to have got him going good at this stage and he is just a happy horse.

“He is entitled to have a crack at a Midway for sure and certain.”

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BEST BET

PHEARSON (race 9) was bought for $65,000 as a yearling and has earnings of $686,075 with the promise of more to come. The Brad Widdup-trained son of Exosphere has won a Liverpool City Cup and Festival Stakes so is comfortable in stakes grade. He is third-up in Saturday’s Winter Challenge off two improving runs in the Civic and Winter Stakes on the way there. Keep in mind that one of his two track/distance runs was his 2023 Festival Stakes win with (same jockey) Tom Sherry up.

BEST VALUE

ISLAND DREAM (race 4) was a big third on debut at Newcastle then won at Hawkesbury and Rosehill Gardens in quick succession. Trainer Chris Waller even pitched her into the Group 3 Kembla Classic at start four of her first preparation when and where she was only beaten five and a half lengths. Back now and the trials have been rather good. Has a bright future ahead and soft won’t worry her.

Dreaming of a win! Back-to-back wins for Island Dream and @cwallerracing with a treble! 🏝️@KPMcEvoy | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/UQCmvnoqgX

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2025

EARLY QUADDIE

RACE 3: 1, 2, 8, 9

RACE 4: 2, 3, 10

RACE 5: 2, 5, 8, 10

RACE 6: 7, 8, 9, 11

QUADDIE

RACE 7: 3, 7, 9, 10

RACE 8: 1, 2, 4, 8

RACE 9: 8, 9, 10

RACE 10: 1, 3, 4

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PRICE CHECK

DISNECK (race 8) has traversed the Rosehill 1100m three times prior to his impending return to racing in the July Sprint priced at an inviting $13. The first one was his debut, which was a closing eighth of 14 in the Golden Gift. He was back there three weeks later and thrashed Kimochi et al. The third and last time over the t/d was an honourable second in the Listed Starlight Stakes. If they can run on, then he can run on faster than the rest.

SECTIONAL STARS

TOTOKA (race 6) has only managed two wins in her 15 starts but she has contested races including the Gimcrack, Sweet Embrace, Magic Night, Up And Coming, Callander-Presnell and Denise’s Joy. She ran well in some, not so well in others, but to be fair to her, she has to be ridden stone cold early so she can unleash her powerful finish.

UNSTOPABULL (race 5) has finished with a medal at 12 of his 21 starts which speaks to his consistency. Four of them were gold medals but one wonders how many of his placings could have been wins with a bit of luck here and there, that is to say, he usually gets back in his races, especially when he draws wide. He just needs a fair track on Saturday so he can post what would be a somewhat deserved win for a horse who almost never runs poorly.

Last at the turn, first over the line! 🔥

Unstopabull wins up along the inside, it's a @nashhot running double! 👏@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/Zbvlh3OtmH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

TRIAL POINTERS

SPICE PRAWN (race 1) is the fourth foal of the dual Group 1 winner, Cosmic Endeavour. Her third dam is Twiglet who was a bonny racemare herself but nothing short of a broodmare gem given the success of her foals Easy Rocking and the epic Hong Kong sprinter, Fairy King Prawn. Spice Prawn showed enough in her two losing runs at her first prep (one unlucky) to indicate talent. Easy trial winner on July 7 at Hawkesbury.

PONY SOPRANO (race 3) was purchased by his trainer Robert Agnew for $18,000 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale in 2023. It has proven to be a canny buy on Agnew’s behalf, the gelding has already won $50,000 in just five starts and he’s not quite turned four yet. So much to like about his two trials up at Port Macquarie (second) and Taree (won) in two uncommonly strong Open heats.

Originally published as Rosehill inside mail: Our Kobison can put Missile Stakes in range with big run in July Sprint