Toffee Tongue's Brother a Jumping Star

Media Release - Monday May 25

A full brother to this season's G1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Toffee Tongue, Gobstopper has given his Kiwi owners plenty of excitement over the COVID-19 enforced lockdown period, and he continued that on Sunday when taking out the Australian Hurdle (3900m) at Sandown.

“I thought he was really professional this time, he didn’t over-race he got a nice trail and was ridden amazingly,” part-owner and former trainer Andrew Campbell said.

“He has got some good form around him at the moment.”

Gobstopper is a star over the jumps - image Brett Holburt Racing PhotosGobstopper has won three of his last four hurdle assignments, including a last-start win in the Galleywood Hurdle (3200m), and Campbell said it has given his Kiwi connections plenty to look forward to over the last couple of months.

“We got a bit of criticism for leaving him over there when we did, but in hindsight it was probably the best thing we did,” Campbell said.

“It has been our highlight over lockdown, it has been a hell of a thrill.

“It’s not just us, but everyone is getting a buzz out of it. Probably because he is a Kiwi horse and he is well known up here (Cambridge).”

Gobstopper won the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) prior to his jumping career, and Campbell said the change in discipline has done wonders for the seven-year-old gelding.

“We did all the educating here and he turned his form around.

“I remember he just got beaten in a Rotorua Cup (Gr.3, 2200m). We had been schooling him up and it brought him a new lease on life.”

Advertisement

With Gobstopper thriving over hurdles, Campbell hasn’t dismissed the possibility of trying other horses over hurdles if they show ability.

“It’s (jumps racing) definitely worthwhile,” he said. “If you have got a half decent flat performer and they run out of zest, if they can jump there is certainly a future for them.”

Gobstopper is a favourite of Campbell’s and he said he is looking forward to the son of Tavistock furthering his jumping career in Australia under the care of trainer Eric Musgrove.

“He has been a great horse to us, he has given us some great thrills and a lot of heartbreaks,” Campbell said.

“Eric is unsure at this stage (what his next target will be), but there are plenty of races coming up.”

Back in Cambridge, Campbell has been pleased with the progress of his eight-strong team.

“We are just ticking away,” he said. “We have got eight in work and they are all having their first run along on Saturday.

“We have got a nice bunch of rising three-year-olds. It’s a nice team around us and I am very happy with them.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Interest at JRHA Sale Next Week – First foal of Golden Slipper Winner
The 2025 JRHA  Select Foal and Yearling Sale will be held next week in Japan on July 14 and 15 and as usual there are some interesting entries for Aussie racing fans with a significant number of our star mares at stud in Japan including the 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 7
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Te Akau Stars Headed to Cranbourne
Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.