For all of Good Odds Cobber's 40 racetrack successes, it's two of his eight group race wins that stand out most fondly for Frank Hurst.
"Going and winning the Bulli and Temora Cups like he did earlier in the year was pretty special because it proved to me just what a mighty dog he was," Hurst said.
"Had you told me early days he'd win country cups on one turn tracks I'd have said you were mad.
"But he was just a great dog. Tracks, boxes, the opposition … with Cobber it didn't really matter."
Hurst's reflection follows the news that two-time Group 1 winner Good Odds Cobber (Fernando Bale x Good Odds Meghan) has run his last race.
Trainer Jason Thompson, who took over the dog's training in September ahead of his looming stud career at Awesome Lodge, shelved plans for a Melbourne spring raid after the dog injured a toe at his latest start.
Before the career ending run the winner of more than $1 million in stakes lined up to defend his Group 1 Dapto Megastar crown when finishing fifth following his last victory in a heat a week earlier.
"He's got absolutely nothing left to prove and has given so many wonderful memories," Hurst said.
"They say you only get one dog like him in a lifetime but we've been lucky to (Good Odds) Harada and now Cobber.
"He pretty much raced in Group company his whole career and won with everyone he went to as well."
In a career that netted 40 race wins from 71 starts, Good Odds Cobber's Group 1 successes came in the Dapto Megastar and Gold Bullion at Albion Park.
The regally bred sprinter contested no less than 16 Group finals, also winning a G2 Gosford Gold Cup, G2 Golden Ticket, G2 Bulli Gold Cup, G3 New Sensation, G3 Temora Cup and G3 Origin Sprint.
And he ran time everywhere he went, reeling off 29.21 at Wentworth Park, 29.50 at Albion Park, 29.44 at Dapto, 29.30 at Richmond, 29.24 at The Gardens, 29.23 at Gosford, 25.98 at Bulli and 29.48 at Q2 Parklands.
"If he got beat in those big ones it was generally because of bad luck through no fault of his own," Hurst said.
"When you took him to the races he just filled you with so much confidence.
"He really is a special dog."
While Good Odds Cobber's racing career is now over, his next phase at stud is just getting started.
