Central Queensland's Koby is so sharp

By Jordan Gerrans

Trainer John Shelton believes Central Queensland homebred So Koby wouldn’t be out of place in a city Highway race if the team behind the unbeaten mare decide to throw her in the deep end later this month. 

Bred and raced by Graceville Thoroughbreds just outside of Rockhampton, So Koby has an unblemished career record after two starts. 

The four-year-old did her early education and race preparation with long-time Callaghan Park conditioner Jamie McConachy in CQ. 

She won a trial well for McConachy at Rockhampton late last year before being transferred to the barn of Shelton at Grafton. 

The inaugural Kosciuszko-winning trainer Shelton produced the daughter Kobayashi to the races in late August without an official public appearance since December of last year and she blitzed a maiden field by more than three lengths.

She doubled the dose on Tuesday at Grafton when she led to score in a 1000 metre Benchmark 58 event.

“It is very hard to do, win a maiden and then go to your next race and win that, as well,” Shelton said.

“It is bloody hard these days and it shows you have a decent horse if you can do that.

“She achieved that and we still haven’t got to the bottom of her either yet, I do not think.

“From all reports, she had knee troubles in her early days but anyway, she is sound as a bell now.

“A new fresh horse on the scene like this for my stable, it is good.”

Northern Rivers racing commentator and form analyst for SKY Racing Gary Kliese has a big opinion of the emerging galloper. 

“This is a really nice filly,” Kliese said.

“She is pretty quick that little girl and has a lot of ticker.”

So Koby is still only lightly raced with two career appearances on her resume as a four-year-old sprinter. 

Bryan Hall and his wife Lorraine operate Graceville Thoroughbreds in CQ and bred So Koby. 

They have also had great success with galloper Sunnycoast in recent times.

Sunnycoast and So Koby are both out of mare Even So and race in the same white with gold sash colours. 

There is a $120,000 Class 3 Handicap Highway race over 1000 metres at Randwick next Saturday that Shelton is considering targeting So Koby towards. 

“If she is ready for that, we will have a think about that over the coming days and have a chat to the owners,” he said.

“I wouldn’t think she would disgrace herself if she went to a race like that.

“She ran a pretty slippery time on Tuesday; she ran the quickest last 600 metres of the day in 33.62 seconds. 

“Luke Rolls has been riding her and hasn’t even touched her with the stick yet and he thinks there is more to come, he is keen on her.

“It is good to have one like her in the yard, that is for sure.”

The promising mare landed with Shelton by complete chance. 

He says the local veterinarian at Grafton knows the Halls and when they said they were looking for a trainer to take on their unraced horse on the Northern Rivers, she put his hat in the ring and not long after, So Koby was in his stables.

“Hopefully the luck can continue,” he said.

“She had a bit of knee trouble and the softer tracks and swimming down here might be able to help her.”

Shelton has also picked up a new two-year-old from the ‘Rocky’ connections, with a progeny of stallion Perast recently arriving at his yard. 

Sunnycoast has won $230,050 in career stakes from eight victories in just 18 attempts.

Now a five-year-old, the chestnut gelding claimed the local feature Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic 2YO Plate back in 2023 and has raced consistently ever since.