Olivia Cairns’ previous frustrations with Kobability have been replaced by a strong sense of confidence, and on Thursday, they will aim to complete a remarkable winning hat-trick at Ipswich.
The five-year-old daughter of Kobayashi is set to back up her recent victories in a Doomben maiden and a Sunshine Coast 0-58 race when she contests the Vince Insurance Class 2 Plate (1690m) that concludes the day’s card.
These are the first two wins in the mare’s career, which now spans 20 starts, and Cairns is relieved to have seen her performance improve so dramatically.
“Her work’s always been super – she’s always worked good enough to win a race anywhere in the world – so it got quite frustrating that she could work so good but do so bad,” Cairns stated.
She elaborated on the physical challenges the mare faced: “But on the physical side of it, she just wasn’t strong enough to maintain the strength for racing.”
Cairns observed the significant improvement this preparation: “This time in, from the get-go, she was a lot stronger and she came back in with a lot more condition on her. She’s held her condition, has looked a lot better and lot stronger and she’s going well.”
Kobability, who joined Cairns’ stable after finishing last on debut when trained by Kelly Schweida, has led all the way to win her past two races, covering 1350m at Doomben before a 1600m victory last start.
She is set to race over another 90 metres this week, a factor Cairns is slightly cautious about, but she believes that Kobability’s racing style could be an advantage at Ipswich.
“I would have probably rather it be a mile (1600m) – I think a mile might pull her up – so whether she’ll see that out is my only concern,” Cairns admitted. “But her customary role seems to be to race up in the first four or handy and get that nice roll along, because she gives you a length on straightening and then maintains it and I think that’s where she’s winning her races.”
Cejay Graham, who partnered Kobability to her win at the Sunshine Coast, will retain the ride at Ipswich. The pair are scheduled to jump from barrier six in the field of 13 competitors.
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