Gold Bullion favourite is now Frank’s ‘best ever’

By Pat McLeod

Veteran New South Wales conditioner Frank Hurst reluctantly places his star-of-the-moment, Good Odds Cobber, just above his retired superstar and Million Dollar Chase winner, Good Odds Harada.

“In some ways it's not fair to compare them,” Hurst said.

Good Odds Cobber is heading towards the Group 1 Gold Bullion Final over 520 metres at Albion Park on Thursday night, with ‘Cobber’ an early favourite.

“They're both great in their own ways," Hurst said. 

“It is hard to compare dogs from different eras, but if I had to make a choice, I would say that this dog (Good Odds Cobber) is the best dog that we have had.

“He hasn't missed anyone. He has been in all the big races. But, it was the same for Harada. They don't duck anyone.

“But, what makes Cobber special? He chases. He really chases. He can lead and win. He can come from behind and win. He just doesn't give up. He is always trying and also has a bit of early speed.

“It is a combination of things that includes the temperament of our breed, it's just unbelievable, on and off the track.”

Hurst believes race favourite Good Odds Cobber’s early speed and his box one draw will be the two crucial elements in Thursday night’s $250,000-to-the-winner showdown.

“As far as early speed goes, (thoroughbred training great) Tommy Smith hit the nail on the head about 50 years ago, when he said, ‘You have to breed for speed’,” Hurst said.

“You can't count on something coming from behind all the time. That is why the one box is also so crucial. This is a great race with a lot of very good dogs.

“There is very little between the top and the bottom. They are all fast and they will all chase you right through to the post.”

However, Hurst is not so bullish leading into this race about Good Odds Cobber’s chances if he leads early.

In the lead-up to the dog’s Golden Ticket showdown with Smooth Plane, Hurst predicted that his dog would not be run down if he led early.

Good Odds Cobber did just that, winning by a narrow margin, and getting the ‘Golden Ticket’ directly into the Gold Bullion Final.

“When I said that it was in the lead-up to the match race against one dog,” Hurst said with a laugh.

“I'm not going to be a mug and get egg on my face this time because he's not racing one dog, he is racing seven dogs and they're all very good.”

However, the wily conditioner also hasn’t lost any faith in the dog.

“If he does get to the first turn in front I will be very, very pleased and I will be cheering very hard," he said. 

Hurst says he is unlikely to be at Albion Park on Thursday night.

He says he will be watching the race at home with wife Tracey at their Londonderry property, in Sydney’s west.

“I don't think I will be up there on Thursday night,” he said.

“I am busy with about 20 pups at the moment and I am 78 years of age.”

However, he has total confidence in ‘stand-in’ trainer, and family friend, Dave Irwin, who has cared for Good Odds Cobber at his Warragai Creek kennels during this Brisbane carnival campaign.

“As far as having Dave to look after the dog on the night, there is nobody better,” Hurst said.

“He is from the old school, same as me. We know how to look after our dogs, how to prepare them, what has to happen.

“He also has his daughters with him (Lisa and Shelley), handling the dog on the night, talking to him, patting him. They get the best out of the dog. They do everything that we do.”

Thursday night’s Albion Park program is packed with quality racing.

Other highlights include the Group 1 Gold Cup over 710 metres as well as the Golden Oldies, the Country Cup and the Queensland Short Course.