Hoban Resumes In Style

10 July 2012

The connections of Hoban were yesterday rewarded for their patience when the WS-bred son of Pins broke his maiden at Echuca. In his third start and first appearance in nearly 12 months, the three-year-old raced away to score an effortless victory over 1200 metres.

A $A140,000 Sydney Easter Yearling in 2010, Hoban is out of the Danasinga mare Danex who won one race, but a measure of her quality was a third placing in the Gr 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and she ran fourth in the Gr 1 New Zealand Oaks. She has also done a fine job at stud as the dam of four winners, including the Gr 1 VRC Derby placegetter Digital Fortress (Savabeel).

Danex is a half-sister to the Group performers I’m Excited and Calm Crossing and, therefore, the family of the Gr 1 Thorndon Mile and Captain Cook Stakes winner Calm Harbour. Adelaide Cup winner The A Train also features in the pedigree.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.