“SAILOR” ROUNDS THEM UP AT DUBBO

JAMES Ponsonby didn’t have to spend like a “drunken sailor” to secure a nicely bred unraced three-year-old online two years ago.

Named Drunken Sailor, the son of Cox Plate winner Ocean Park had fetched $220,000 as a yearling in New Zealand – but hadn’t faced the starter when he was put up for sale.

“We were probably a bit lucky because he was way down the order in that online sale in January 2024,” the Hawkesbury trainer recalled en route home from Dubbo this evening after winning his fifth race with the gelding earlier today.

“He was definitely worth a throw at the stumps, and has been a very good horse to us.”

Ponsonby secured Drunken Sailor for only $1250, and was understandably delighted to see him bounce back to winning form.

Ridden by Mathew Cahill, Drunken Sailor was the second least fancied horse at $13 in the eight-horse Benchmark 66 Handicap (1418m) – but it didn’t matter.

He rounded up his rivals nicely to defeat Awesome Tycoon ($6.50) and Shadow Dane ($8) to boost his career earnings beyond $120,000.

“I was hoping he might stay and tried to stretch him out in distance a few times,” Ponsonby said.

“But it hasn’t worked. I feel 1600m looks to be his limit.”

Drunken Sailor was beaten six lengths when fifth to Stay Tuned (who won again at Kembla Grange last Saturday) in a Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1800m at Bathurst just before Christmas, and appreciated coming back in distance today.

“Hopefully the RacingNSW handicapping panel isn’t too severe on him, and we can find another nice benchmark race for him in the country,” Ponsonby said.

Ponsonby’s victory with the now five-year-old continued a splendid start to the new calendar year by the Hawkesbury training base.

His was the ninth success in the first 12 days of 2026, and the 89^th overall winner for the current season.

HOOFNOTE: The previous Drunken Sailor was an Irish-bred horse who ran in both the 2011 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups before winning the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington the following autumn, and then being beaten a whisker in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville after starting from the outside barrier in a capacity field of 20.

Whilst Ponsonby kept the provincial flag flying at Dubbo, Newcastle’s David Atkins and Wyong’s Wayne Seelin were successful at the corresponding Taree fixture.

Atkins landed the Maiden Plate (1250m) with the well supported $1.85 favorite Damons On A Bender (Aaron Bullock), who always travelled like a winner at only her second start.

She travelled strongly on the pace, and took advantage of clear running near the inside on straightening to comfortably defeat fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Smashing Nova ($4), who raced wide throughout, and Gosford trainer Nick Mitchell’s $41 roughie Double Or Quits.

Seelin’s $13 chance Sapphire Kiss (Grant Buckley) won the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

The six-year-old mare clearly likes racing at Taree. She has started there three times for today’s success following minor placings in November and December.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 12, 2026