Robson's strategic strike yields perfect three-from-three

The New South Wales Robson harness racing stable couldn’t have scripted it any better.

Based at Gulgong in the central west, Ty and Kayla Robson split forces last Friday night (February 20) – and returned home with a flawless result.

Kayla floated three-year-old filly Summer Delight (Bettors Delight) the one-and-a-half hours to Dubbo, while Ty headed in the opposite direction on a three-and-a-half hour trek to Newcastle with two runners.

By the end of the night, the couple had combined for a perfect three winners from three starters.

“I try and place our horses where they can win and, on this occasion, I got it right,” a happy Ty said.

“I was keen on racing Summer Delight at Dubbo because I knew she would draw well – and when she come up with barrier one, that was perfect,” he said.

“We were really happy how Blake (Medlyn) drove her. He’s had a few drives for us now.

“As for the two Newcastle runners, Haveyoucheckedin (Hurrikane Kingcole) is a high rater now so I’ve got to place him, while Bettorcheckherout (Sweet Lou) was aimed for the Tommy Reay Memorial Sapling series.

“Our driver Will Rixon drove them both well. I really like it that he looks after your horses in the races – they both pulled up a treat and ate up afterwards.”

Six-year-old gelding Haveyoucheckedin, now an NR89, has been a tremendous money-spinner for the stable, boasting 14 wins and 12 placings from 59 starts for $140,000 in stakes. His victories have been spread across Newcastle (4), Albion Park (3), Bathurst (3), Penrith (2), and single successes at Wagga and Tamworth.

Robson has never been afraid to travel to find the right races, regularly competing at Tamworth, Parkes, Bathurst, Newcastle, Dubbo and Menangle, with the occasional winter trip north to Queensland.

The Newcastle success also continued a strong association with the Wrigley family who part own the youngster Bettorcheckherout, now unbeaten from two starts.

“I think she’s really promising and hopefully she should run well in the $30K final next Friday at Newcastle, which is the Group 2 Newcastle Mile night,” Ty said.

“We’ve known the Wrigleys for around 10 years. David and his son Brett are passionate harness racing supporters who’ve been in the sport for a long time. David has been involved with the Dubbo club for over 30 years and between them they’ve held roles including president, club director, judge and mobile barrier driver.

Harness racing also runs deep in the Robson bloodlines.

“I’m a third or fourth generation in the sport.  My dad Geoff is my stablehand and he made the trip with me to Newcastle,” Ty said.

“Dad last had a runner a good few years ago, but he was a very astute trainer. He and his brothers followed their father into it, so I was born into the sport.”

Originally from the Hunter Valley region, Robson and his wife relocated to Gulgong with ambitions in mind for their breeding operations.

“Our intentions were to expand the breeding and to have a property we can rear our foals and yearlings,” he said.

“Gulgong probably isn’t an ideal location to prepare a race team because of the distance to tracks, but we’ve got an 850metre track, swimming hole and walker and got into training a few, which we’re really enjoying,” he said.

Both Ty and Kayla work full-time in senior local government positions as well, but the season has started in fine form for the boutique stable, with four winners from seven starters.

“Apart from five race horses in work, we’re preparing two for the Nutrien Sydney sale in a fortnight, so it’s pretty busy at the moment,” he said.

“We’re focussing on quality over quantity in the racing team, so we were a bit quiet last season and turned a few over.  We also have a 10-month-old baby boy Reuben, who had his first trip to the trots with Kayla last Friday night.”

 

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink