Progressive 3yo Hobelar wasn’t given any favours in front when racing first-up at Ascot last Wednesday but he refused to capitulate in the Drummond Golf Hcp (1100m).

Hobelar (King’s Troop) was literally shadowed by odds-on favourite Overdrive (Playing God) and the big filly seemed to have the upper hand when they settled down to duel at the top of the straight.  “She was breathing down my neck and I thought she had our measure,” winning jockey Brad Parnham reported.  “Then he dug deep for me and it was a really good win.”

Bred by Namerik Thoroughbreds owner Alan Bansemer, he was catalogued for the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale but was taken back home to Serpentine when bidding failed to reach a $40,000 reserve.  Bansemer had sold his city-winning older half-brother El Patron (Patronize) for $75,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and that’s been paid back with earnings over $200,000 to date for clients of trainer Simon Miller.

Their dam Femelle (Charge Forward) arrived in utero at Namerik Thoroughbreds in 2013 after second-dam Carlton Spirit (Fraar), a LR Debutante Stakes (900m) winner at Caulfield, had been purchased for $20,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale.

Hobelar was unplaced at Bunbury and Ascot during an initial spring prep but had been tracking well since a five-length barrier trial win at Belmont on February 17.  “Tiana (Murray) let him roll along in that trial and there wasn’t a lot on speed on paper here,” trainer Dan Morton said.

“Donna Riordan also had him for a fair while because there was no room in our stable.  He’s taken a little while to mature and but was tough enough to fight it right out today.”

Hobelar posted the 50th win for his sire King’s Troop (Redoute’s Choice) and the best of them has been the Trevor Andrews-trained All The King’s Men (LR Lex Piper Stakes & LR Bunbury Breeders Classic).  King’s Troop is owned by Gangemi Thoroughbreds and will be covering his third book at Roselee Park in Serpentine this year.