Kobi Creek set for a Cup upset

Stuart Kendrick trainer of Kobi Creek. Photo courtesy Ross Stevenson.

Stuart Kendrick is looking to Kobi Creek to reproduce a career-best effort to complete a great year for his stable at the Sunshine Coast.

Kobi Creek will be having his fourth start for Kendrick in the Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) on Saturday.

It has been an outstanding season for the trainer who has dominated racing at his home track of the Sunshine Coast with 45 winners in the local premiership which puts him 22 winners ahead of second-placed Robert Heathcote.

He has been based at the Sunshine Coast for four years and his other stakes win at the track was Divine Centuri in the 2016 Mick Dittman Plate.

“Obviously it is good to win any stakes race but you get a special thrill in front of your home town crowd,” Kendrick said.

“Kobi Creek’s owners rang me a couple of months ago and asked if I would take him on with a Queensland Cup start in mind. I was happy to and now it has been transferred from Eagle Farm to Caloundra.”

The latest of Kobi Creek’s four wins was in November 2015 and he will again be at big odds in Saturday’s Cup.

But the gelding has shown he can spring a surprise run in top company on occasions with his best effort third in the 2015 Listed Caloundra Cup at $101.

“The first two in that race were Index Linked and Escado who are both well above average stayers,” Kendrick said.

“I know that was a while ago but Kobi Creek is a tough old bloke. He is fit and down in the weights and will run the 3200 metres right out.”

“Over the years the Queensland Cup has been won by roughies with light weights. But whether Kobi Creek is up to some of the southern horses is the question.”

Kobi Creek gets his stamina from little known Zabeel sire Shadow Creek who was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and raced by Gooree Stud before coming to Queensland for stallion duties.

Kendrick’s apprentice Tiffani Brooker is back from suspension to ride Kobi Creek.

Credit: AAP

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