Gibbons ready to fly on the Coop to kick off busy Coffs meeting

Andrew Gibbons will head to Coffs Harbour on Sunday where a solid book of five mounts awaits the talented jockey.

Gibbons, who was in action at the Wyong feature meeting on Saturday, will combine with trainer Tony Newing for a couple of leading contenders at Coffs Harbour, starting with Ol’ Mate Coop in the Komatsu 2YO Maiden Plate (800m).

Ol’ Mate Coop is a Showtime gelding on debut and comes into the Coffs Harbour event on the back of a fourth placing in a barrier trial at Deagon on Christmas Eve.

“He’s only had the one hitout in a trial and I’m sure he will have derived benefit from that experience,” Gibbons said of Ol’ Mate Coop.

“He’s drawn wide, but they should run along over the 800m, so he’ll get his chance to run home.”

Gibbons and Newing will also be in action together when the former Les Bridge trained four-year-old Key Legend contests the O’Brien Plumbing & Relining Coffs Harbour C,G&E Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).

Key Legend has won two races since joining the Newing stable, including a last-start success at Coffs Harbour just under two weeks ago when racing on the speed and kicking clear to score a strong win with Matthew McGuren in the saddle.

“He’s a nice horse that has shown his share of ability in his career,” Gibbons said of Key Legend.

“It was a good win the other day at Coffs Harbour and if he can run up to that again from the good draw then he should be very hard to hold out again.”