Govenor General Cobham with Mick Brown and Bob Skelton

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DescriptionGovenor General Cobham with Mick Brown and Bob Skelton Date of Photo1957-1963Map^[1]ContributorMoe Bowes

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Location (city or town)ReeftonPersonLord CobhamMick BrownBob SkeltonEventGovenor General Cobham with Mick Brown and Bob Skelton

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Date Created23rd September 2019CommentsJohn Rosanowski: Bobby Skelton on right. One of the greatest NZ jockeys. Probably after winning the Reefton Cup, looking at the Reefton skyline.

Myron Caldwell: John. I always thought Bobby was the best of the 5 boys as a jockey. He knew how to nurse a horse along and rode with a very short rein up around the head. Possibly the most famous Cobden family, ever.

Dave Perry: Governor General Cobham left with Bob Skelton right guess it’s the Owner of the cup winning horse centre

Brian Molloy: It will be Great Sensation after winning the Wellington Cup I would say if that was the Governor General. I think those were like the Great Sensation colours - he won the Wellington Cup three times. And if that is the case the bloke in the middle will be his owner trainer Mick Brown from Wingatui (Dunedin)and the date around the late fifties early sixties. Bob Skelton was recognised as the greatest rider of stayers (distance horses) NZ racing has ever seen. I think he won something like 16 two mile races (including those three Wellington Cups on Great Sensation)

Maye Dunn: Brian Molloy thanks for that information.

Myron Caldwell Brian Molloy:. I was curious as to how they got Viscount Cobham to go to the Reefton races. I met him quite a few times in Auckland. He had size 13 shoes and he and her like to bury boot when driving the Rolls or the Rover they had up there.

Brian Molloy: Myron Caldwell yes in those days Wellington Cup day was a huge day in Australasian racing(let alone NZ racing). the Wellington Cup winner would invariably be hard to beat at Flemington the same year in the Melbourne Cup(though Great Sensation never went to Aussie). Bob Skelton of course won the Melbourne Cup in 1976 on Van der Hum. The track was unbelievably wet that day - Van der Hum loved it and ploughed through it. These days NZ horses really struggle to even get a start in the Melbourne Cup let alone win it.

Myron Caldwell: Brian Molloy Obviously you don't follow the horses (much). Is the reason Kiwi horses don't go to aussie because we don't have the "two milers" any more.

Brian Molloy:Myron Caldwell Not so much that(though that is true) but now days with virtually daily international flights they bring huge numbers of top horses from Europe where they do have strong distance racing numbers. Most of the runners in the Melbourne Cup are now European breds where thirty years ago most were NZ bred. Course the race is worth $8m this year so you can see why it is attractive for the Europeans(they don't have stakes like that over there for handicap racing)

Les Bryce: I remember when he came to the Coast around 1960. He also captained the English cricket team which toured NZ 1n 1955.

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Govenor General Cobham with Mick Brown and Bob Skelton

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