Welcome to 'Cookson Racing Stables'
Licenced 'Class A' Public Trainer
Racing Operations
Cookson Racing is established on a 5 acre property – horse safe, fully post and railed, and 14 horse barns in total.The horses are paddocked during the day with a full appointment of overhead yards and boxes. Foxton Beach and track are only a few minutes away.
These days Foxton based trainer Sandy Cookson has a team of 20, and for Sandy this is her maximum number as she believes in individual care and attention. To assist her, last year Sandy took on experienced horseman Matt Dixon as Stable Foreman.
"I have fabulous owners" acknowledges Sandy, in recognition of their support and love of racing, and along with her partner Wayne Keenan supplying horses to train from his breeding operations and others from Wellfield Lodge, there is a constant supply of thoroughbreds joining the Foxton stables.
Pre-Training
Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson sends his horses across to Sandy for pre-training. One of the advantages of training out of Foxton is the close proximity of the beach, where the horses can be worked and 'freshened' up accordingly. Foxton racecourse also has a great all season track surface.
Ambition
"Keep training winners – do the best we can by the owners and the horse, and maintaining our great strike rate" states Sandy.
Past Winners
During her career Sandy as amassed over $1 million in stakes monies, including 3 Group and Listed races.
Sandy’s partner Wayne Keenan purchased the mare Cadell from a broodmare dispersal Sale, and over time produced the successful ‘O’Ceirin’ family – O’Ceirins Angel, Mr O’Ceirin etc - which have given Sandy some great winners. Mr O’Ceirin was sold to Australia winning 10 races over there and O’Ceirins Angel is a dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed, such was the quality of the mare that last year a colt from her fetched $240k at the Karaka sales.
Earlier in her training career Lord Tridan past through Sandy’s hands winning 4 in a row and was the top 2YO in 1989. Another Allez Pal a smaller type filly brought Sandy some successes including the Taumaranui Gold Cup. Sandy says she was a little filly with a huge heart making her a great stayer.
Historical Winners
Sandy Cookson commenced her career with racing as a very young teenager in the Wairarapa and at the young age of 13 years she rode work for Carterton trainer Jack Walker.
A move to Foxton a few years later led to her being employed by Jimmy Hayes as a stable hand and trackwork rider.
In 1979 Sandy moved to Thames with her then husband and took out an 'Owner Trainer' licence. Sandy then moved on to Te Aroha in 1986, at which time she was issued with a 'Permit to Train' licence and duly trained a team of 12.
In 1990, she returned to Foxton where she trained a team in her own right whilst also pre-training and working for Paddy Busuttin. (Paddy subsequently moved his operations to Singapore).
Horses To Watch
October 2015 -
Lord Onesto - Has won 2. In Sandy's view he is going to be one to watch – a very good horse.
O’Ceirins Whisper - He's an exciting individual; huge attitude and arrogance.
Monie O’Ceirin - A full sister to Remember How; will make a very nice 3 year old.
Contact
Physical Address: 77a Norbiton Road, Foxton.
Mobile: 027 247 4765
Email: info@cooksonracing.co.nz
