Gundagai’s own Jim Scobie is having the kind of week every small-time trainer dreams of, securing a much-needed win at a recent TAB 2 meeting, with the prize money immediately earmarked to cover necessary farm expenses.
The successful day at the track, which yielded a win and a third place from just three starters, coincided with a major showjumping victory, ensuring a very profitable week for the veteran horseman.
“It was worth the day, I had three starters for a win and a third,” Scobie confirmed following the meeting. The financial relief was instant: “I’ve got a fencer doing a bit of work here, so it paid for him as well as the fuel for the trip there.” He joked, The highlight of the day was the maiden win of a promising but highly difficult four-year-old gelding National Asset.
Scobie, who has personally broken in and worked with the horse since birth, admitted the journey to the winner’s circle had been fraught with tension. “It was good. I’ve just broken him in, and I’ve done everything with him really, and he’s caused me a fair bit of grief, so I’m pleased that he came good,” Scobie explained.
The horse’s recent behaviour had placed him firmly on the Steward’s radar. “He was on a warning, so if he did anything wrong again, he would go back to the trials, so they were good enough to let me start him again, but only just,” he revealed, highlighting the narrow margin for error.
Despite the behavioural issues, Scobie has always held high hopes for the horse’s ability. “He’s always been a nice horse, and he’s a really good worker. It’s just that he’s been difficult. He finds it a bit difficult to get his mind on the job, but obviously, he’s starting to handle things a bit better.”
In his characteristic dry humour, Scobie likened the horse’s focus problems to severe indiscipline. “He’s only a young horse, I guess, but he just has trouble concentrating. If he were a person, he’d be in juvenile detention.”
The gelding, who has just turned four years old, is a family affair, owned by Scobie’s wife, son, and daughter-in-law. Paul Galloway is credited as the breeder, having bred the foal after purchasing the mare. Scobie secured the horse from Galloway but made sure to offer him a share, ensuring the breeder remained invested in the colt’s success.
The win was significantly aided by the partnership with jockey Brad Vale, Scobie’s preferred rider. Scobie’s loyalty to Vale is well-known, citing the jockey’s gentle touch and reliability.
“I’ve had a lot of success with Brad,” Scobie said, recalling their past partnership with the horse Zero to Ten, which delivered six wins. “I just like the way he rides. He’s kind on horses, he’s a good family bloke, and I just like the guy, you know, I just like the way he rides.”
Scobie acknowledges that Vale may not receive the best rides in the country, but their personal success rate speaks for itself. The trust between the two was demonstrated by Vale’s willingness to make a significant journey for the opportunity.
“I asked him to go to Forbes, it’s a four-and-a-half-hour trip for him. I said, if you come up, I’ll give you three rides, so he took one of his own up and made it worthwhile for him, but he got a winner as well,” Scobie explained. “Not many of the jockeys would drive that far just to ride a couple of horses for you, particularly when they are possibly not the best horses in the world.”
Scobie’s two other runners for the day provided contrasting but equally encouraging efforts. Favourite Son started as the favourite in his race, only to finish eighth of eleven runners.
Scobie was quick to distance himself from the market hype. “To be honest, he ran a pretty good race. It wasn’t me who made him a favourite. He was only a $5 favourite and it was on the strength of a pretty good first-up run at Leeton.”
Despite the position, the trainer was pleased with the effort. “I actually thought he ran quite a nice race. Because he’s by The Autumn Son, he’s likely to run over a mile and 2000 metres, and you know, the stewards are all over me all bloody day out there, with him as well. They sent the vet to do a check on him, but that’s just the way it goes; I don’t mind that.”
The final runner, Gustav, secured a solid third place, maintaining a history of consistent returns. “He’s just a good, honest tradesman, and he’s picking up the prizemoney every time he goes around; it suits me. He’s bound to win a race; he’ll have to win a race shortly.”
Gustav was forced to carry a hefty weight of 61 kgs, but Scobie suggested this burden came with an expectation of quality. “If you’re up there, generally speaking, you may be against lesser horses; if you’re up in the weights, you generally expect to be the class runner of the field, and I think he was that, and gave us a good, honest effort.”
Adding to the positive week, Scobie also enjoyed a moment of local pride, albeit tongue-in-cheek. “It also occurred to me that I’m the leading trainer in Gundagai,” he joked. “There are only two of us, and the other one’s not racing just at the moment, so I’ve got that advantage.”
The financial windfall was compounded by a major success off the racetrack, highlighting Scobie’s diverse talents with horses. He claimed a significant prize in the lucrative showjumping arena. “I won the Equimillions the other day with Boomerang Cafe,” he said.
The Equimillions is a flagship event created by Racing New South Wales for retired racehorses, boasting a total prize pool of a million dollars. Scobie competed in the showjumping category.
“You compete in two classes, and it’s an aggregate score, and I won both my classes and got a share in the prize money.”
The horse he rode, Boomerang Cafe, is one Scobie raced himself. Now 16 years old, the horse has a history of high-level competition, including trips to the Magic Millions Gold Coast events for showjumping.
“He’s been taking me all over the place. He’s a nice little horse.”
Scobie is now set to put his racing stable aside for a short period. “They won’t be going around for a couple of weeks. I might go showjumping this week. I’ve been going alright with that.”
Reflecting on his excellent run of form, both in racing and in the show ring, the seasoned horseman noted the simple pleasure of success. “I’ve had a good week! No two-minute noodles this week.” He concluded with a nod to his longevity in the sport and his competitive spirit. “And of course, when I go anywhere, I increase the average age of competitors considerably. Those young pups are all chasing me. You just take the good weeks when they come because they are few and far between.”
– Tully Potts
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