GIBBONS READY TO MAKE HIS MARK IN GOSFORD FEATURES

DYLAN Gibbons is on the doorstep of a career 500 winners and can edge closer with good rides in two of Gosford’s features at tomorrow’s metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

The born and raised Novocastrian, who now calls Sydney home, is only seven short of that milestone and has worked hard to establish himself in the riding ranks in town – and is getting just rewards.

With 81 winners so far this season (32 in town), he sits sixth on the State premiership table.

Gibbons relocated to Sydney just over 12 months ago, and says he probably should have made the move 12 months earlier.

“But I’m here now, and really pleased with how the season is going,” he said today.

“I ride work mainly at Royal Randwick, but will answer calls from trainers at the other city tracks when required.”

One of those “calls” led to Gibbons picking up the mount on Victorian visitor and topweight Zambardo in tomorrow’s $500,000 Listed The Coast (1600m) at Gosford.

“I have been riding some work at Rosehill Gardens for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s Sydney manager Ben Elam, and as a result getting rides for the stable,” he said.

“But I haven’t seen Zambardo.

“I’ll be riding him sight unseen tomorrow, but really looking forward to being on him.

“As a Group 1 placegetter (second to Via Sistina in the Mackinnon Stakes, 2000m at Flemington last November), obviously he has the right form to win The Coast.”

Zambardo, a four-year-old by Belardo, has won four races (all in a row leading up to his Mackinnon second) and been placed four times from only nine starts.

He resumed when ninth (beaten four lengths) to Captain Furai in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on April 18, and no doubt will have taken improvement from that.

Gibbons has had precious few opportunities to win a feature race at the Gosford stand-alone.

He was still an apprentice when he partnered $16 chance Kinloch (who drew the outside barrier and ran ninth to stablemate Rustic Steel) for his former master Kris Lees in the 2022 edition of The Coast.

Two years later he also rode Lees’ Tavi Time, who wasn’t  suited by the heavy conditions when sixth to Victorian raider Magnaspin after the meeting was transferred to Newcastle.

 Gibbons was recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and couldn’t ride at last year’s The Coast meeting.

He has formed a close association with the Tom Charlton stable at Randwick, and his latest winner (Lord Horatio) came for him at Warwick Farm two days ago following a treble at the new Illawarra Grange’s debut meeting the previous day.

Now he gets the chance on last year’s Group 1 Queensland Derby hero Maison Louis to win tomorrow’s $300,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) for the stable.

“I rode Maison Louis in all four runs when he returned last spring, and the pleasing part is that he is more relaxed and settling better this time in work,” Gibbons said.

“His first-up run (sixth to Hellsing in a 1500m Benchmark 100 Handicap at Randwick on Anzac Day) was good, and he’s ready to step up in distance.”

Maison Louis carried 60.5kg at Randwick, and drops 3kg.

Gibbons’ other Gosford bookings are Priority Park (2YO Handicap, 1200m), Presides (Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1200m), Danxia (TAB Highway Handicap, 100m), Maison Louis’ stablemate King Pedro (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 2100m), and Damien (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m).

HOOFNOTE: Gibbons will ride against his father Andrew, who partners Zaphod for Kris Lees, in the Gosford Gold Cup.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 8, 2026