RACING
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WHEN Wayne Cohen and his wife Catriona purchased a five-year-old stayer called Sonny Joe almost two months ago, he had not fared better than a sixth placing in any of his starts.
That changed on Saturday.
The Lord Of The Manor x Miss Creation gelding won in his first start for the duo and did so at his new home track as he was first past the post in the Cole Plumbing Entires and Geldings Maiden Handicap (1200 metres).
Given the owners were just hoping for their $8 chance to finish off well, the victory in his fifth start was a nice surprise. It was also a reward for the effort Catriona put in riding him in track work.
The result took his career earnings from $275 to $8475 and saw Sonny Joe repay the faith of the Cohens and their fellow owners by returning a profit.
“He’s paid for himself already a few times over, he only cost us around $2,000,” Wayne Cohen said.
While it is the first horse they have had a share in together in Australia, Wayne and Catriona are no strangers to the racing industry.
Wayne’s grandfather was involved in the harness racing industry and one of the horses he owned – Waynes Advice – was among the first that now legendary The Lagoon trainer-driver Steve Turnbull had in his team.
Waynes Advice claimed almost $10,000 in prize money during his career as he won 21 of his 85 starts.
However, Wayne himself was more attracted to thoroughbreds.
He worked for John Hawkes during the reign of Lonhro, an 11-time Group One winner of almost $6 million prize money, and while not dealing directly with the weight-for-age star, he did help with 2003 Canterbury Guineas victor Fine Society.
It was during his stint with Hawkes that Wayne met Irish-native Catriona and soon the pair headed to Ireland. There they remained involved with horses before moving back to Australia.
When chatting to Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald’s apprentice jockey Jamie Gibbons about their desire to own a horse, the pair were pointed in Sonny Joe’s direction.
“We only got Sonny about six weeks ago, he was with Tracey Bartley before then and we wanted a stayer,” Wayne Cohen said.
“Watching his replays I think he was put in a lot of wrong races, but since he’s come down here he has packed on the weight and muscle.”
This campaign will be about finding the best distance for Sonny Joe, but he showed he liked the 1200m run on Saturday at the Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing Club’s meeting.
While most of the support was directed towards the David Vandyke, Warwick Farm trained Valcot ($1.90 favourite), Sonny Joe flew under the radar for new trainer Paul Theobald.
After Karakokum got the best of the start with Mathew Cahill in the saddle, Valcot soon took up the lead.
Sonny Joe headed around the outside of the field early before settling fourth for jockey Greg Ryan, the champion hoop making sure he did not give up too much of a lead to Valcot.
Into the home straight Valcot led over Karakokum, but Sonny Joe was now only a half length further back in third.
Karakokum ($4.60) pulled ahead, but Sonny Joe finished strongly down the outside to take the win by 3⁄4 of a length with Valcot a further two lengths back in third.