Cody Cole had good reason to claim bragging rights at Te Aroha today but instead he was happy to share the kudos associated with his first training win.
Just a week after claiming a third placing with his first ever runner, the 26-year-old son of Te Kauwhata couple Tony and Louise Cole tasted victory with impressive first starter High Distinction in the Mainfreight 3YO 1000.
With wins at his two lead-up trials, the chestnut was able to track the speed from his inside draw and burst through in the shadows of the post to score by half a length.
Fittingly the Zacinto gelding was ridden by Cole’s partner Samantha Collett, and it was she who was placed at the top of his list when handing out the plaudits.
“That was a 12 out of 10 ride,” he suggested in a possibly weak moment. “No seriously, it was great for Sam to be on my first winner, it was a lovely result.
“She’s one of a lot of people who have helped me. My parents gave me my grounding and are always there for advice, plus I’ve learnt a lot off others like Sam’s father Jim and Rambo and Julia (Ritchie), who I used to work for.”
Cole races High Distinction in partnership with his parents and older sister Celia, who was the only member of the quartet not on hand to witness today’s win.
“Celia’s living in Sydney now, really enjoying it too, working at Randwick as assistant to the property manager at the ATC,” said her brother.
Cole, a former champion weight-lifter, has no immediate plans for High Distinction and may even let him up with a view to the autumn.
“I might just ease off him,“ he said. “He’ll be better with a bit more time and on tracks with the jar out of them.”
In the meantime the two other members of the Cole racing string are well positioned to fly the stable flag. Fortius is a ready improver from his fresh-up third, while multiple placed maiden Le Petite Rouge shaped encouragingly at yesterday’s Te Teko trials.