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Comeback jockey Kody Nestor is ready to add the Coonamble Cup to his collection after causing a boilover in the recent Dubbo Cup

After more than a year on the sidelines recovering from surgery, Kody Nestor quickly bounced back to winning form including the Dubbo Cup and can add the Coonamble Cup to his tally.

Adam Sherry
6 min read
October 12, 2024 - 5:00PM
Jockey Kody Nestor looks a good chance to add the Coonamble up to sit alongside his recent Dubbo Cup win. Picture: Bradley Photos
Jockey Kody Nestor looks a good chance to add the Coonamble up to sit alongside his recent Dubbo Cup win. Picture: Bradley Photos

The old saying ‘You can’t keep a good man down’ certainly applies to jockey Kody Nestor.

After more than a year out of racing, Nestor made a successful comeback to riding at the Collarenabri non-TAB meeting on September 14 with a winner at his second ride for the day.

“It was an enforced lay-off. I fractured a couple of vertebrae in my neck which had to be fused together,” said Nestor.

“It was a bit of a long process just waiting for the vertebrae to fuse but I’m feeling fine and nearly back to 100 per cent fitness.

“It didn’t affect me too badly as far as pain goes but the long recovery was the worst part. Sitting around for 13 months got a bit monotonous after a while.

“I did a bit of travelling up through the top end of Queensland and the last six months, I really knuckled down with the rehab, physio and getting myself back into shape.”

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Just two weeks into his comeback, Nestor scored an emotional win in the Dubbo Cup aboard veteran galloped Sneak Preview which booked the gelding a place in next month’s $3 million Big Dance at Randwick.

This latest comeback to riding isn’t Nestor’s first.

Following a successful career in the saddle, he took up training in 2017 and in the following five seasons, prepared over 100 winners before giving it up to go back to riding.

One of Nestor’s first horses as a trainer was Sneak Preview so to partner him to victory in the Dubbo Cup was an unique experience.

The nine-year-old settled well back on the rails and Nestor saved ground around the bend before going between horses in the strait to run past High Dandy late with Hollywood Hero flashing down the outside for third.

“It’s a situation you wouldn’t see too often,” he said.

“I bought him as a two-year-old when I was starting to get going as a trainer and syndicated him among some friends of mine and my father is involved.

“We had a bit of fun with him including a Highway and a Qualifier the Country Championships.

“When I gave training away, we sent him to David Vandyke in Queensland and he won five or six races up there.

“We brought him back to retire him more or less but he was fit and well so we thought we would give him a last hurrah and send him around in the Dubbo Cup.

“I don’t think anyone expected him to win but to get the result was great.”

Nestor is looking for a second feature in his comeback when he partners Hollywood Hero in the Coonamble Cup (1600m).

The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding is looking for his second success in the race having won the Cup last year and book his in the Big Dance again.

Hollywood Hero raced outside Sneak Preview at Dubbo and while the winner got an inside run, he had to make a beeline to the outside and was momentarily held up before flashing home late for third, just over a length from the winner.

“It’s a great ride to pick. His run in the Dubbo Cup was really good, no doubt about that,” said Nestor.

“This race sets up a little bit better for him this weekend with a good, genuine tempo in the Cup and with the smaller field, even if he settled last, he’s not going to be spotting them 12 or 14 lengths.

“He should tack on behind them and only have four or five lengths to make up in the straight and he’s a good enough horse to do it.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 4: Rennata

Closed nicely for third at Newcastle when resuming for a new stable. Can overcome the wide gate.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 3: Not Written Off

Led all-the-way for a big win at Narromine before a close third in higher grade at Dubbo last start.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No. 1: Roma Avenue

Scored a narrow win at Rosehill then a close third at Randwick. Drops back in trip after racing a little keen over 1800m last start

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 5: 4, 7

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4, 7

Race 6: 5, 9, 11

Race 7: 1, 2, 4

Race 8: 3, 6, 13

Aaron Bullock will be hard to beat in the Jockey Challenge with his string book of rides. Picture: Getty Images
Aaron Bullock will be hard to beat in the Jockey Challenge with his string book of rides. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock looks set for a big day with several leading chances including Roma Avenue in the Cup.

INSIDE MAIL – COONAMBLE

RACE 1

Hutt Street was a close third to Release Point on debut at Narromine in April. Raced keenly when fourth at Mudgee two weeks later and was spelled. Trialled well at Muswellbrook recently. Coella held the rail in a line of five before finishing a nose second to the swooping Ranhita when resuming at Narromine. Will be prominent again. Curly Bend was five-wide in that race before finishing sixth. Was a close second to Light Infantry at Dubbo last week.

Bet: Hutt Street to win

RACE 2

Pahang has tuned up for the Picnic Championship with a second at Enngonia and a tenth to Roses Imminente at Dubbo where he has carried 59 and 59.5kg rather than high 60s. He is a winner at the track and three times at the trip. Winkers go back on. Belle O’Ballee was third in the Enngonia Cup last start. Sixth to Barry The Poet at Dubbo two starts earlier. Only placed once from five at the distance. Kalpana is first-up since her Louth Cup win in August.

Bet: Pahang to win

RACE 3

Rennata was first-up for the Kristen Buchanan stable when she came from well back with nice closing third to Cosmeena over 1250m at Newcastle on Oct 1. Drawn wide but will come in a few gates. Ahellbenda battled away for third behind Check Your Six in a Super Maiden at Dubbo on Cup Day. Was fair in her two runs at Hawkesbury before that. Byron’s Farm has been consistent, placings in four of his five starts. Let’s Go Leo placed at his first six starts this preparation.

Bet: Rennata to win

RACE 4

Driving Force resumed with a smart win from Scarzel over 1000m at Tamworth. Was fourth to Gallant Star and Lonhro’s Queen over 1100m at Dubbo last start where he pulled up lame. Steps up to his best distance here and is a multiple winner at the track. Sneak Preview caused a boilover in the Dubbo Cup I record time last start. Won a Country Championship Qualifier here. Has a big weight but don’t underestimate. Jacenza battled on for third to Rhythm Is A Dancer in the Spring Cup at Tamworth last start.

Bet: Driving Force to win

RACE 5

Smart Shot was well back and took off approaching the 800m when a length winner over 1400m at Tamworth first-up on Aug 16. Worked home closer to the fence when runner-up to Hulu over 1280m at Muswellbrook on Sept 10 before a second to Feirme Prince in a 1400m Bm66 at Scone 17 days later. Ready to step up to the mile. Medinah was third to Feirme Prince and Smart Shot at Scone. Was a close third at his only try over the mile. Wanda River and Interventionist have place claims.

Bet: Smart Shot to win

RACE 6

Earl Of Bantry went forward from the outside gate to lead before angling to better ground near the outside fence off the bend to score at Mudgee first-up for his new stable on Sept 8. Sat outside the leader before coming down the middle of the track to win again at Narromine. Can bring up the hat-trick. Hit The Rim came from a long way back when fourth to Roses Imminente over 1300m last start. Up in grade but drops 4kg. Feirme Prince has claims on his last start Scone win.

Bet: Earl Of Bantry to win

RACE 7

Roma Avenue scored a narrow win second-up at Rosehill before being just beaten by Major Beel at Randwick. Raced keenly when just over three lengths behind Unusual Legacy over 1800m at Rosehill. Hollywood Hero is chasing back-to-back wins in the Coonamble Cup. Settled well back and had to come very wide off the bend to find room in the straight when third in the Dubbo Cup. Ravello scored a nice win over 1300m at Warwick Farm first-up. Ready to step up to the mile.

Bet: Roma Avenue each-way

RACE 8

Not Written Off crossed from out wide to lead and gave nothing else a chance with a big win over Prince Of Sepang over 1100m at Narromine. Jumped up to a Bm66 when a three-quarter length third to Lord Bob over 1000m at Dubbo. Back in grade and hard to beat. Super Story was fourth in that Narromine race when resuming. She will be better for the run and meets the winner 2kg better. Stratified and Deion have place claims.

Bet: Not Written off to win

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/comeback-jockey-kody-nestor-is-ready-to-add-the-coonamble-cup-to-his-collection-after-causing-a-boilover-in-the-recent-dubbo-cup/news-story/2eb092025643aaf9b5eafcc6c60622c3