Pictured are Chris ‘Zeek’, Jack, Marj and Blane with Boomer the family dog.
Front is Bell and Joie with baby Elouise.
The Whybrow family came together for a family gathering on Tuesday night, just 4 days before their slot at the Kosciuszko will be utilised by ‘Derry Grove’. It will be a quest to win a combined $1 million dollars in prizemoney to be shared with the owners of the horse, trainer and Jockey. The Whybrows will receive 40% of any winnings. The Whybrows are amazingly one of two local chances in the big race with Mogo Magic part owned by Harden connections and bred just outside of the twin towns. Both horses are good chances in the race.
Derry Grove won recently at Royal Randwick. Image – Steve Hart.
Saturday is shaping to be a life-changing day for local residents, who will be cheering on their hopes in the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m), which will be run and won at Royal Randwick. The country-restricted event is a slot holder race, and as previously reported by the Twin Town Times, former trainer Jack Whybrow and his son Chris (Zeek) Whybrow spent a combined total of $70 on tickets and won a slot before selecting the Matthew Dunn-trained Derry Gove. Initially a $26 chance with bookmakers, the Murwillumbah gelding won a 1000m Class Three Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick on September 16 and has since been crunched into the $7 fourth favourite.
“My word we are excited,” Jack Whybrow said. “He’s the horse we want to be on. I’ll admit, we originally shopped around in the first hour after the draw, and he was our second choice after the top three or four favourites were taken. “Since then, he’s come out and won that Highway and was very impressive, and he is in the market and where he should be on that run. “We’re happy to have him at the moment and thrilled to bits to be involved. “We get the stable reports, and he had a trial on Saturday morning, and we haven’t heard anything yet, and no news is good news, I guess. “Chris and I don’t need to have a bet, and we’ve got a good result going if he wins, and we just hope the stable is confident and they have their money on.”
The Whybrow connection will be heading to Sydney this weekend to cheer on Derry Grove in the $2 million race and a host of other locals will be making the trek to be there with them.
“The whole family is going,” Whybrow laughed. “We’ve got ten tickets, and ten Whybrows are going, and it should make for a great day.”
The Whybrow family will have multiple reasons to cheer on Saturday, with relative and local product Nick Heywood riding the locally-owned and Scott Collings-trained Mogo Magic in the same race. The four-year-old is unbeaten in five starts and is $8 in the markets.
“Nick’s grandmother is Beverly Stephenson; she is my wife’s sister, and she will be coming up to Sydney with us, and that should make for some pretty interesting conversations on the way,” Whybrow laughed.”
Heywood, will be riding for local owners such as Harden Picnic Race Club President Nathan Schofield, and he likes his chances. “He’s going up in grade, and he’s racing at 1200m for the first time, but I don’t think that will be a concern,” Heywood said.
“He trialled well the other day, and one of the horses behind him won on Monday, so there is a good form line around him, and I believe he is a good chance.”
The Goulburn galloper has won three races on the trot in town, with his last victory in an 1100m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Royal Randwick on July 29. He’s since trialled the house down at Goulburn, beating the likes of Rocket Tiger and Front Page, and Heywood is expecting him to show his customary pace and take some beating on Saturday.
“He usually gets out quite well and always puts himself in a good position from the get-go, and I think he’ll be in at least the first three or four on Saturday,” Heywood said. “I’ve had a quick look, and there doesn’t seem to be that much speed in the race; a couple will punch up, but he’ll put himself in a good position, and he’ll look the winner at some point.”
Heywood isn’t counting his chickens, and coming up against last year’s winner, Front Page ($6), heavily backed race favourite Opal Ridge ($3), and Northern Rivers champion Far Too Easy ($5), he’s aware it’s anybody’s race.
“You can make a case for ten out of the 14 horses, and it will all come down to tempo and a bit of luck,” Heywood said.
There has been some uncertainty surrounding Mogo Magic’s fitness leading into Saturday’s The Kosciuszko, with Racing NSW steward’s releasing the below statement earlier this week.
“Trainer Scott Collings has provided Racing NSW Stewards with an update regarding a veterinary examination conducted on Mogo Magic, who is entered to run in The Kosciuszko at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 14 2023,” their statement read. “Earlier today, Mr Collings’ stable veterinarian examined Mogo Magic and found the horse to be mildly lame (1/5) in its off foreleg, with a slightly increased pulse to the foot in the same limb. “As a result, the horse is currently receiving treatment for a foot condition, and the horse will be reassessed by the stable veterinarian over the weekend. “Additionally, a Racing NSW Veterinary Officer will examine Mogo Magic and all other horses entered in The Kosciuszko before racing. Racing NSW will provide another update as soon as it becomes available.”
The Times did reach out to connections, who are confident the horse will step out and race on Saturday. As always, the Twin Town Times will keep readers up to date with any breaking news, and readers can check back next week or follow our socials to see how the local chances fair in the rich country-restricted race.
South West Antennas are now servicing the areas of Harden and Jugiong.
