Jobodwana kicked off the new season on a winning note for trainer Mick Price and Vinery sire Congrats (USA) at Seymour on Thursday.
The lightly-raced three year-old was always travelling sweetly first-up after a 20 week spell in the Parker Earthmoving Maiden (1000m). He loomed up to front-runner Cheeky Chinchilla in the straight to win running away by three-quarters of a length.
Price rates the gelding very highly and will send him straight into black-type company for the LR McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, August 22. That race has been the launching pad for numerous spring stars including Rich Enuff last year.
Jobodwana had shown ability in his first prep winning a Caulfield jump-out in March. He missed the start but mustered speed and looked a good prospect taking tight gaps to finish off in the fastest juvenile time of the morning.
That prompted strong support when Jobodwana made his debut at Sandown Hillside but he didn’t fire a shot and finished well down the track. “We don’t know what happened that day – a vet exam didn’t show any abnormalities,” stable spokesman Matt Finn said. “He’s a nice horse but may have just trained off.”
Jobodwana (3g Congrats – Nakaaya by Tiger Hill) is the first foal of a mare that won the G2 Sunline Vase at Moonee Valley for Price and owner-breeder Greg Perry. Nakaaya’s second foal is a 2yo filly by More Than Ready.
Congrats (A P Indy) has a groundswell of three year-olds – like Jobodwana – ready to make an impact in their second preps this spring. Vinery stands him for a $19,800 (inc GST) service fee.
