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.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.

21 October 2026

Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter

Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.