Cobi fitting right in up north

By Jordan Gerrans

With a northern shift on the horizon, hoop Cobi Vitler did his chances of picking up Queensland rides quickly in the coming months no harm with a breakthrough victory at Caloundra on Friday evening.

The 25-year-old is in the process of making the move from his Scone base in New South Wales to the Sunshine State’s Darling Downs region to utilise his healthy provincial and country claim.

It was a ‘Downs trainer who the Englishman nabbed a victory for on Friday, partnering with John Dann in the Maiden Plate over 1400 metres aboard Rhuvaal.

It was a smart piece of riding from the apprentice hoop as he burst through a gap in the concluding stages to give Rhuvaal a much-deserved victory as the gelding had been knocking on the door for months. 

Vitler posted 55 victories in regional NSW through the 2023-24 campaign and he is now aiming to take his riding career to the next level.

“It is always a nice way to start off coming up to a place like that, starting off at a new track with your first winner,” Vitler said.

“It always helps. The race played out perfect to be honest, my instructions were to follow the favourite (Fashion Flash) and never let it out of my sights.

“My horse jumped from the gates well and we had to wait for the run to open.

“He is a pretty nice horse; he is just a sit and sprint horse so we had to hold him together for as long as possible and hoped the run stayed there for him.”

It was a big Queensland weekend for the up-and- coming rider.

He was prominent at Caloundra on Friday, Eagle Farm the following day before heading to Clifford Park on Sunday for their rare day meeting.

Vitler will be back north of the border this weekend with a strong book of engagements at Toowoomba under lights while he is also optimistic of picking up bookings during the day at the Doomben city meeting.

Indentured to Brett Cavanough currently, Vitler is in the process of shifting his apprenticeship to Toowoomba conditioner Lindsay Hatch, which he is hopeful will be sorted in the coming weeks.

“I am thankful for the rides from all the trainers and owners,” he said of his opportunities last weekend.

“It was a good weekend to advertise myself and hopefully get my name out there.

“I rode work at Toowoomba on Friday morning for Lindsay Hatch, Matt Kropp and a few other trainers.”

Cavanough – who sent a big team of horses to Queensland's Central West last year to campaign – pushed his apprentice in the direction of Hatch.

Vitler boasts a three-kilogram claim on the provincial and city circuit and rides at 53kg.

Hatch is renowned as a top mentor of apprentice jockeys and has had Angela Jones, Kyle Wilson-Taylor, Jake Molloy and Baylee Nothdurft work for his stable on the Darling Downs before they transitioned to riding in the city.

“There are always things I need to work on as a rider and getting into the right camp, that will make that a lot easier,” Vitler said.

Vitler grew up in East Sussex, England and was with John Sergeant for six months at Randwick, then moved on to John Ramsey in Scone for a year before ending up with Cavanough.

“He’s ridden his share of winners and is coming to the end of his claim, so he’s ready to go to the next level,” Cavanough said of Vitler late last year.

When he moved out as a teenager, Vitler only ever considered being a trackwork rider in Australia and his career in racing has just flourished since.

“It is the best decision I have ever made,” he said.

“I definitely wouldn’t have had the opportunities that I have had here if I stayed in England.

“It was definitely the right move for me. The Queensland lifestyle will suit me.”