Jabali – Southland’s ultimate warrior

Twelve year old Jabali (Extreme Three) is the ultimate harness racing warrior and very much part of the Hope family. Today (Mar. 11) at start number 155 he won his ninth race for trainer Ross Hope and his wife Dianne.

The aged gelding, who has never raced north of Gore, started his career at the Riverton Trotting Club meeting in November 2014, finishing eighth.   

He won his first race at Winton in May 2016 at start number eight. His second win was at start number ten, third at start twenty four, fourth start fifty, fifth start eighty nine, and his sixth win was at start ninety two. His seventh was at start one hundred and twenty six, his eighth at start number one hundred and forty four and nineth win at start number one hundred and fifty five, today!

By Extreme Three, a brother to Mach Three, Jabali’s third dam Midnight Lady (Armbro Raven) won four races including a heat of the Southland Oaks. She was Ross’s first winner.

“Her daughter Adiana Lady (Soky’s Atom) was pretty smart. She won down here, at Addington and at Cambridge. Then she broke a leg,” Ross said.

Jabali is out of one of Adiana Lady’s daughters, Sunbelle Lady (Beach Towel).

Ross has had horses for most of his working life. He worked as a maintenance fitter at the Lorneville Freezing Works for forty five years until he retired.

He’s been training since 1988. 

Ross and Dianne’s youngest son Jason worked for Mark Purdon for a number of years and was the stable’s first foreman. 

In today’s race from barrier one driver Blair Orange took Jabali straight to the top and dictated all the terms before hanging on to win by half a length from Nyla (Bettor’s Delight).

“He’s quite competitive even at home. I hate to think how many fast workouts I’ve driven in and he’s never trained badly in his life. We always vowed that if he ever trained badly we’d retire him but it hasn’t happened.”

JABALI REPLAY

And when they get home tonight Ross and Dianne will be well aware of the bag of tricks Jabali will dish up.

“When you try to put the cover on him he moves and when you go to do up the cover straps he moves.”

Although today was start number 155 Hope says horse and trainer have no plans of stopping.

“It keeps you alert and healthy, that’s the main thing. He stamps his feet and if you’re not careful he’ll get you in the knee and he’s done that to me on a number of occasions. You just have to keep a wide berth. Dianne found out you don’t get into the stall to put his halter on. You’ve got to wait for him to put his head down.”

On average Jabali has started seventeen times each season across his nine seasons of racing.

“You can’t fault him. He trains well and the farrier says he’s probably the soundest horse he’s ever shod. I’d like to take him back to racing from a stand. He hasn’t had one for years because of the grades he’s been in.”

When retirement finally comes along Jabali will remain on the Hope’s Rimu property.

“I thought he’d make a nice mate for his younger sister, but they don’t like each other.”

Most of Jabali’s wins have been at Ascot Park (6) the others at Wyndham, Gore and Winton.

Orange has driven him in two wins, Kirk Larsen two, and Sheree Tomlinson, Tristan Larsen, Mark Hurrell, Matty Williamson and Sarah O’Reilly have all driven him to win once.

Jabali is fast closing in on winning $100,000 in stakes, currently sitting at $97,429. It may have taken a while, but perseverance has paid off.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink