Queanbeyan preview: Scott Collings looking for some Nick Heywood magic on Hobbsy

Trainer Scott Collings and jockey Nick Heywood aim to boost their sky-high winning percentage via the well-bred Zoustar gelding Hobbsy at Queanbeyan.

Race 3 - Nowra, 23 July 2023, Winner - Hobbsy, Jockey - Nick Heywood, Picture: Bradley Photos

The Mogo Magic team of Scott Collings and Nick Heywood will combine at Queanbeyan with the shared aim of ensuring a third career win for blueblood gelding, Hobbsy.

Heywood boasts an honourable 22.2 per cent winning strike-rate for Collings, a figure which leaps to 45.8 per cent when placings are added.

In keeping with the percentages, Heywood’s winning ratio on Hobbsy is 33 per cent, or one win from three rides.

Horse and rider last combined as recently as July 12 where Hobbsy faded late to finish fifth in the 1660m Moruya Benchmark 58.

His mission will be a second test at the mile when he steps out in the Kurrinda Bloodstock Country Boosted Handicap.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

Fighting down the home straight @goulburnraces, @Hannah94920552 got up on the line aboard the @CollingsRacing-trained Zoustar 4yo Hobbsy.@racing_nsw@widdenstud@SledmereStud@inglis_sales@[e-mail]/ziKRoHEx3k

— Elite Racing Services (@andrewn1976) September 8, 2023

“He didn’t quite run out the 1600m at Moruya all that strong but that was on a Heavy track,” Collings said.

“I think getting back to a track that is not quite as Heavy, I don’t think the mile will be a problem.

“From (barrier) five, he will be able to do no work and he will either be leading or running second there somewhere.”

Collings has clearly been an admirer of Hobbsy for some time.

He was the only horse the trainer bought at the 2021 HTBA Yearling sale at a cost of $17,000.

The son of Zoustar was Lot 1 and the only offspring of his sire in the entire catalogue.

Collings saddles-up three others at the Queanbeyan meeting namely Ahrahmia, Almost Under and the most welcome stable recruit, Tokyo Ice.

Tokyo Ice has a tidy C.V of eight starts for a win and three thirds at a variety of venues as far apart as Canberra and Orange as well as three at Goulburn.

“She has got very good form for a horse that has been racing in the country,” Collings said.

“All the horses that have finished in front of her all go quite well.

“This is her first start for me so it will be just a little bit of trial and error but her work at home has been great.

“Obviously she has got a tricky draw but I think she will still run very well.”

Almost Under (White and Red silks) finishing second to Thoughtful at Goulburn. Picture: Bradley Photos

Almost Under, meanwhile, presents as a filly on an upward trajectory ahead of the Evergreen Turf Australia Maiden Plate over 1200m.

The daughter of Snitzel was an encouraging fifth on debut prior to her last start second to Matthew Dale’s clearly well above average galloper, Thoughtful, who is a half-brother to Cavalier Charles and close relation to Happy Clapper.

“When she had her first run, it was a fairly strong race, all the horses that finished in front of her, except for one, they were all city-horses, so she did a pretty good job really,” Collings explained.

“So we kind of expected her to run well the next time but she got beat by a pretty good one.

“I think she will race in the first four and it looks a nice race for her.”

As for Ahrahmia, Collings is forecasting a much better outcome for the daughter of Astern after her underwhelming performance at Nowra.

“Getting back on the good track will really help her,” he said. “She just didn’t handle the Heavy at all at Nowra.

“She has always shown enough ability at home, she just struggles a bit to do it on raceday

“Other than Nowra on that real Heavy track, she hasn’t been getting beat very far.

“It is definitely winnable, that’s for sure.”

CLEGG CONFIDENT BLAZED PRINCE CAN ATONE

Local trainer Craig Clegg is keeping the faith when it comes to the somewhat costly commodity Blazed Prince who can reward his loyal followers at Tamworth provided he doesn’t beat himself.

The son of Casino Prince can add ‘beaten favourite’ to his resume, going down as the $2.50 top pick in a 1200m Super Maiden at his home course 14 days ago.

“He was his own worst enemy,” Clegg said.

“He got unbalanced on the corner, ran across heels and Mikalya (Weir) had to check him and he’s lost ground.

“Considering all that, his last 250m was pretty good.

“He is a big gangly horse so I have taken him back to the 1000m so there is just one turn at Tamworth, it is a straight run to the bend.

Super Sioux holds on to win in a tight photo finish in Race 3 at Tamworth. pic.twitter.com/JWZfr5tIPO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2024

“He has got all the ability in the world, he has just got to learn to balance up and be a racehorse.

“I am starting him at Tamworth because it is 20 minutes down the road from my stables. I think he will be a fair better horse on a bigger track.”

Clegg, meanwhile, has a fond regard for the former Victorian galloper Major Makeover who is owned outright by the ace broadcaster and successful racehorse syndicator, Anthony Manton.

Bred by Gary Chittick and from one of Waikato Stud’s prized families, Major Makeover has been around the money in five of his six runs under Clegg’s management.

“He’s only had the 10 starts, he is a three-year-old, he is still growing and even though he hasn’t won a race for me, I feel that it is not far off and he will win some races,” the trainer said.

“He has got good form and he’s been very unlucky a few times.

“His run the other day when Aaron (Bullock) rode him was very nice.

“He said get him to a mile but I just couldn’t find, locally or close enough, a mile race so we are back to the 1400m but he’ll be more than competitive in that.”

All things being equal, Clegg can expect his Tamworth-bound sprinter Rembroy to walk away with a medal, something he has done five times in nine starts.

“He has got a good draw, Chelsea (Hillier) has ridden him before and it is his home track,” Clegg surmised.

“He is just an honest little horse that is going to win a few races.”