IT'S "SAILOR'S" RIVALS WHO WERE LEFT WITH WOBBLY BOOTS

TUESDAY: October 28, 2025: JAMES Ponsonby was prepared to “take a punt” when he noticed an unraced three-year-old by Cox Plate winner Ocean Park listed for sale through Inglis Digital in January last year.

Named Drunken Sailor, he had fetched $220,000 when sold as a yearling in New Zealand.

At Queanbeyan yesterday, Drunken Sailor clinched his fourth victory for his Hawkesbury trainer and boosted his earnings to nearly $100,000.

Not bad at all when it is considered Ponsonby purchased him for only $1250.

With Winona Costin aboard, it was Drunken Sailor’s rivals who were left with wobbly boots when the now five-year-old gelding gapped them in the Class 3 Handicap (1460m).

Drunken Sailor ($9) settled last from his outside barrier, travelled up strongly approaching the home turn and quickly put the issue beyond doubt when Costin got him into the clear after straightening.

She didn’t need to use the whip as the gelding surged away to defeat Cosmic Ride ($8) by nearly three lengths, with Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s $12 chance Mah Ali third.

Reflecting on his purchase of Drunken Sailor, Ponsonby today said his gelding had “probably slipped through the cracks”.

“He may have been a late entry for the online sale as he was listed as Lot 173 below fillies and mares,” Ponsonby explained.

“I’m sure he would have bought more had he been placed higher in the sale.

“I watched video of him walking, and he was a really good type, so he was worth taking a punt on.”

Drunken Sailor’s four wins – two have been at Queanbeyan – along with six placings have taken his earnings to just over $97,000.

“Drunken Sailor never came with any blemishes, but can be a bit hot headed at times,” Ponsonby said.

“Even though he is now a five-year-old, he is still maturing and that was the best of his four wins yesterday.

“The way he did it was impressive.”

Ponsonby took blinkers off Drunken Sailor after he failed at Kembla Grange on October 4 in a Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m), and his two subsequent starts have produced a close Orange second and yesterday’s victory.

“He’s pretty casual and I put them on him at Kembla Grange hoping it might spark him up,” he said.

“But he bombed the start, so I took the blinkers off straight away.”

Ponsonby feels taking Drunken Sailor to country meetings is helping mature him, but is not in a hurry to test him in Midway class in town.

“That can wait until next preparation if he continues to race well,” he said.

“For now, we’ll keep focusing on suitable country races and hopefully get his earnings up to around $150,000.”

. Drunken Sailor was Ponsonby’s third winner this season, and the Hawkesbury training base’s 43^rd since August 1.