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There has been a lot happening in the life of trainer Joe Ible and his partner Samantha who hope to celebrate with a win by Folk Hero at Nowra on Monday.
The couple has packed up from Canberra and relocated to Kembla Grange with Folk Hero the stable's first starter from the new base in the TAB Long May We Play Benchmark 58 (1600m).
It was only five months ago the couple welcomed their first child, Ella, so it's fair to say they have had a lot going on. Joe Ible has been able to concentrate on his horses with Samantha able to dedicate her time to baby Ella.
The move to Kembla Grange is another step in the direction Ible wants to head with his career. Folk Hero is the first of 16 horses he will start out of Kembla Grange with a further nine to eventually make up his stable number of 25.
"Hopefully the move will improve the quality of horses in the stable and attract more owners being in closer proximity to the city," he said. "It's a great facility at Kembla Grange and Racing NSW has big plans for it."
Ible has been training for more than a decade with five years spent at Moruya and a further five and a half years at Canberra. His father Darryl started his training career at Kembla Grange and the move to the provincial circuit also puts him closer to family.
"We have had a lot going on, but now that we are settled in we are ready to go with the horses," he said. "Folk Hero ran second at his latest start on a very heavy track at Nowra and if he can replicate that run he will be in the finish.
"He was coming off a four-week break from racing that day and was a bit soft in condition, but he is right for Monday."
The circuit is rated a Heavy 10 with a further track inspection to determine if it is safe for racing.
Folk Hero is one of four horses Ible has in training for owner John Cordina with the pair combining to win with the horse at Queanbeyan in May. The three-year-old appeared to have the race won last start when the eventual winner Mohanna kicked back to prevail by a narrow margin.
Proven in the wet at the track and distance, Folk Hero will find the exact same conditions from a wide barrier with jockey Alysha Collett in the saddle: "If he can replicate his last run I'm sure he can be right there with the benefit of that start," he added.
There is likely to be a few scratchings in the final race with one of the main chances, Zarafah, racing at Goulburn on Saturday and unlikely to start again. Two of the other main chances, Sirmaze and Narrated, have already been withdrawn.
The topweight, Edge Of Darkness, hasn't finished further back than fifth in six starts and is coming off consecutive placings at Hawkesbury. His rider – apprentice jockey Zac Wadick, rode his first career winner at the most recent Nowra meeting for his master and Edge Of Darkness' trainer, Mark Newnham.
Rebellious Miss defied her huge odds of $100 to win by almost seven lengths on a heavy track at Gundagai last start for trainer Aaron Clarke and jockey Richard Bensley. Her ability to handle wet tracks can't be understated and she will face similar conditions on Monday with two kilograms less weight on her back.
Meanwhile, jockeys Kathy O'Hara and Blaike McDougall have been the dominant riders at Nowra this season heading into the club's final meeting of the season. O'Hara won't ride at the meeting with McDougall listed on a number of strong chances which include three for trainer Richard Litt.
