Examiner trainer Andrew Bobin praised racing industry friends for their support on Tuesday as Mother Nature saved his Grampians Racing stable from bushfires.
Bobbin had extra trucks and buoys on standby to evacuate 80 horses from the property, but strong winds pushed the devastating Beaumonal Fire in the other direction.
“(The evacuation) is going to be a very big job, but special thanks to the many trainers, pre-trainers, spelling farms and transport companies who all provided their floats and trucks,” Bobin said.
“The beauty of the industry is that we are all stuck together, but fortunately we didn't need help this time.
“We were lucky we never came to the decision to jump and run.”
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The town of Beaumonal, located about 5 kilometers southwest of Grampians Racing, succeeded in bringing the worst fires in the area under control.
“Our neighbors along the road bore the brunt of it,” Bobin lamented.
“The village down the road in Bomonal, there is a lot of damage there.
“I went for a drive around 3 a.m. this morning, just a minute and a half from the farm, and there was a fire on both sides of the road…just flames and everything burned.”
Meanwhile, Bobbin has fielded Thailess in Saturday's Group 3 The TAB Vanity at Flemington.
The speedy filly, “really impressive in her class”, has won the Hamilton 1st and the Benchmark 62 at Adelaide in her past two starts.
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“She's tough, tough, and certainly fit, so why not give owner and breeder Bill Gee of Warrnambool, who foots 100 per cent of the bill, the opportunity to have a filly he's bred out running in a race with the possibility of some black fillies.” “Kind,” said Poppin.
“She has been heading in both wins at some stage in a row and has fought back, she is looking to give her all when she steps up and when there is a battle she is definitely up for it.
“She at least deserves some chances.”
Thailess opened at $61 with TAB.
Originally published as Thankful coach Andrew Bobin shifts focus to The Vanity at Flemington with Thailess after avoiding bushfire damage in Grampians
