Mach Shard’s new life in the Show ring

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Zoe Cobb was a casual follower of Mach Shard during his racing days – now they are the best of mates.

The Waikato-based Cobb acquired the multiple Group 1 winner shortly after he retired this year and they have already had success in the Show Ring and have some big targets ahead.

“It is the kindest and most gentle horse you would ever meet,” Cobbs says, “he’s been an absolute pleasure.”

She first spotted Mach Shard with HRNZ re-homer Jo Ferguson at the North Island Standardbred Championships.

“I said to her ‘I’d take him in a heartbeat. He’s just a lovely lovely horse.”

She didn’t expect anything to come out of it until Ferguson took her up on her offer weeks later.

“I went to Hamilton and hadn’t been on him for five minutes and I said ‘I’ll take him’,” says Cobb. 

“Shady”, as he’s known, is Cobb’s fourth standardbred. She used to work at trainer Nicky Chilcott’s place and it’s there where “she fell in love with them”.

During his racing career Mach Shard raced from a 2YO to a 10YO, on both sides of the Tasman.

In 2024 he produced some of the year’s greatest moments with his back to back Group 1s in the Taylor Mile, paying $155, and then the Messenger a week later for Crystal Hackett.

A $200,000 sales purchase he ended up winning 20 races and bankrolling $843,000.

“I did follow him a bit especially after those two big wins,” says Cobb.

Now his life is more sedate at Cobb’s place just outside Cambridge.

“For a free-legged pacer he trots beautifully in the saddle – he hasn’t got quite the canter yet, his legs get confused!”

Their debut together was the Harness To Hack event at the Equestrian Centre in Hamilton at the end of March.

“He won the In Hand, the Ridden, and the Musical Equitation in the pleasure section, he was second in the dressage and was Champion Standardbred in his section.”

But then things had a turn for the worse with Shardy getting an intestinal issue which saw him off the scene for six weeks.

Once back though he was Champion Standardbred at the Winter Dressage Series in Hamilton and they went on to win the In-hand and they were Reserve Champion Standardbred at the Bonanza Breed Show.

Then in late September the combo competed at their very first A and P Show (Te Aroha Hack and Hunters at Waihou).

“He was foot perfect. We came away with three placings which I was very happy with.”

They will go to November’s Waikato A and P show next and Cobb has big plans longer-term.

“I’d like to see him progress in the show ring and be an open horse and compete against the standies potentially at HOY (Horse of the Year) in a couple of years and also progress up the levels in dressage.”

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