Hobbs has the speed of her namesake but lacks ‘the top two inches’
Garrick Knight - Raceform • December 23rd, 2025 2:51 PM
Exciting trotting prospect Hobbs has set the benchmark pretty high when it comes to racing on her home track at Gore.
The daughter of Father Patrick is trained by Bruce Wallace at nearby Chatton and they will head into Gore on Saturday for the town’s big annual Cups meeting. It was there that she won her maiden back in August in a Southern Surge Final.
“She ran her last mile in 1.59 and broke a track record that day,” Wallace told RaceForm. “She’s got a lot of speed, which is why I named her after New Zealand’s best female sprinter, Zoe Hobbs. She’s just dumb, which is why I have been patient with her.”
Hobbs turns five next week but has had only six career starts.
“It’s by design – I’ve been busy on the farm, and she got a bit crook after her win. I’m certainly not in any rush to get her through the grades, because it’s not the best thing for her right now. I’m looking after the top two inches. The more starts she has in the lower grades, the better.”
That being said, Wallace is keen to see her win at what is a big day for the local community. She’ll start off 20 metres in the $15,000 Ward & Sinclair Gold Chip Final and it seems likely she’ll be the pre-post favourite.
She was beaten narrowly into second at Winton at her last outing and received a warning for her wayward steering during the running.
“I couldn’t say why she was laying out. Brad Williamson drove her for me and all I got out of him was it was a bloody nice run. She wears a murphy blind and I’ve loosened that off a bit now, so hopefully that does the trick.”
In a further boost to her chances, champion reinsman Blair Orange will drive her for the first time – her fourth driver in as many starts.
“Nathan Williamson is her usual driver, but obviously he’s out injured at the moment. Brad can’t drive her this week as he has one of his own horses in the race, so I figured why not go for the best available in Blair.”
The $25,000 Jaccka Lodge Gore Trotting Cup shapes as a stirring battle, with veterans Jimmy Carter and Maui taking on two impressive winners at the Harness 5000 meeting last Sunday in Clotilde Wainwright and Bring On The Muscle.
A big field has been assembled for the $25,000 Mataura Licensing Trust Gore Pacing Cup, headed by Canterbury visitors Franco Sinatra, Slots and Amass.
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