Amber Sims considers her consistent stayer Coruba Jak as a part of the family, and a trip across the Tasman could be on the cards after the gelding's hard-fought victory at Tauranga on Friday.
The eight-year-old son of Jakkalberry made his presence known in the final stages of the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) last-start, finishing less than a length behind Dionysus in a three-way finish, and following a brief freshen over the Christmas period was set for a resuming run in the Open 2100m.
In the hands of Ulrika Holmquist, Coruba Jak started a $8.90 TAB tote fourth-favourite in a competitive affair at Tauranga headed by the in-form Verstappen at $3.50, and Sims’ gelding settled midfield outside the favourite in the early stages.
As veteran galloper Roger That increased the tempo at the 800m, Holmquist remained patient into the home turn before steering Coruba Jak into the middle part of the track. Pep Torque and Good Oil looked to be fighting out the finish at the 200m, before Holmquist lifted her charge over the line to score by a short neck.
“He was very bright and well within himself, but I hadn’t done much work with him, he had about 10 days off after the Cup so I thought he might’ve been on the fresher side on Friday,” Sims said.
“He does keep himself pretty fit through his pacework though, he pulls quite hard so I only typically do an 800m or 1000m gallop to keep the sharpness in him.”
Sims heavily praised the efforts of Holmquist, the Swede having made a welcome return the riding ranks in New Zealand this season including a close-up second in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) aboard Saint Bathans.
“He was ridden really well by Ulrika, she rides him with confidence, as she does all her horses and they can feel that. He really put in for her and tried hard,” she said.
Sims purchased the gelding off gavelhouse.com for just $1,600 in March 2019, a purchase that has proved more than lucrative for the Pukekohe Park-based trainer having collected over $117,000 in stakes with four victories.
“He’s part of the family, he’s probably the coolest horse I’ve had anything to do with,” she said.
“He can be a little tricky, a typical Jakkalberry, he always has to work in company and he’s got me off a few times, but he’s a happy horse, he doesn’t know he’s eight and is full of spunk.
“I got a few offers for him when he was younger, but I turned them down because this horse doesn’t owe me anything, I only paid $1600 for him and I just love him too much to part with him.”
Coruba Jak’s strength over the middle-distance will see Sims electing to bypass the two-mile features in the Gr.3 NZ Campus For Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) this season, instead aiming for the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) on February 17.
Following this, Sims is considering a potential hit-and-run mission to country Australia for a middle-distance Cup’s target later in his campaign.
“I’ll probably look at the Avondale Cup now, I didn’t nominate for the Auckland or Wellington Cup’s because I think he still has the sprint to be looking at the 2400m,” she said.
“Otherwise, there could be a hit-and-run mission to Australia for the Country Cup’s because he’s the perfect horse to travel, it doesn’t faze him and he’s always home licking the bowl after the races.”