Whilst the season just completed was a quiet one by his own lofty standards Grafton trainer John Shelton has started the new season in fine form and may well have unveiled a very smart mare in the making.
Shelton’s first winner for the season came at Taree when Haley’s Rocket overcame a wide gate and some very green tendencies in the run to finish to score a solid win in the Maiden 1007m on August 15th.
Haley’s Rocket ridden by Matt McGuren led throughout and although shifting out suddenly approaching the post held on to win with some authority.
As impressive as his first season winner was Shelton unveiled a mare with plenty of potential at the Grafton meeting on August when he produced the unraced So Koby in the Maiden 1050m.
Ridden by Luke Rolls So Koby came out running and it was essentially race over with the mare racing away to win untouched.
The leap to benchmark racing straight from a maiden win is one that very few horses are able to achieve however at the last Grafton meeting So Koby did it with consummate ease again So Koby showed abundant speed to lead and again went to the line untouched to score a very impressive win.
In doing so to give some indicate of the steep class rise So Koby defeated Credit Controller which is a winner of over $100k and already has a Saturday Brisbane win on her CV.
