Go Racing’s bonza Aussie season continues
Lord Ardmore winning at Rosehill, Photo: Bradley Photography
Go Racing celebrated another great weekend across the Tasman with three winners and a third placing from four Australian runners.
Lord Ardmore made winning look easy in the Vale Nick Moratis Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday, leading all the way and kicking clear for a commanding two-length victory over Francesco Guardi and fellow Go Racing charge Mubariz.
“He just galloped really well throughout the race and when I asked him to pick up, he continued to do so right to the line,” said jockey Hugh Bowman.
“It was a really good second up performance and there’s exciting things ahead for him.”
Trainer Chris Waller was also impressed by the four-year-old gelding’s performance highlighting some big future targets for the son of Reliable Man.
“Lord Ardmore is a horse that likes to get on with it in his races,’’ said Chris. “He was very strong through the line today, he’s a decent horse with a bright future.
“We are looking at some of these new races in the spring like The Big Dance (1600m) and Five Diamonds (1800m) – they are massive new races that everyone is talking about.’’
Murbariz’s jockey Brenton Avdulla said he expects the six-year-old European import to improve off his run for third.
“He took good improvement from his first up run and he ran really well,” he said.
“From the draw (barrier 7) I just rode him quietly. I have no doubt that if they were able to cart me into it a bit more, he would have finished closer.
“He’ll still improve off this run and I’m sure next time he’ll be hard to beat.”
Meanwhile, up in Queensland five-year-old European import Khaalis went back-to-back with a win over 2200m at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Ridden by James Orman, Khaalis jumped well and settled in the box seat position, until the 1200m mark, where James took him off the fence. He took a gap at the top of the straight and distanced all but second-placed Endorphins who stormed home to get within three-quarters of a length on the line.
“He showed a good bit of ticker when that one (Endorphins) got to us, so I was very happy with the win,” said James. “I’m sure he’ll win a few more here this time of year.”
On Sunday, striking grey Count On Me made it a hattrick of wins for Go Racing, winning the Thank You Hawkesbury SES Maiden Plate (1800m) for trainer John O’Shea under a superb ride by apprentice Reece Jones, who chalked up his 100th win this season.
“It was good to get the win on the board today after three good seconds where he was beaten by some pretty handy horses,” Racing Manager Matt Allnutt said.
“He still has some maturing to do physically but we think he’s a progressive horse who will be very competitive as he gets up in distance.”
Go Racing are taking full advantage of the outstanding prize money on offer in Australia, with 27 of their 57 wins this season on Australian soil.
“Our four runners across the three races this weekend were competing for a total of A$265,000 and that was a maiden race and two benchmark races, so there’s great prizemoney on offer,” Matt said.
A $65,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2019, Lord Ardmore has won four races and over A$300,000 in prizemoney for his connections.
While Count On Me, a son of Reliable Man, who was purchased for $80,000 at Karaka is well on the way to recouping his cost with A$45,750 in prize money in his first season.
Mubariz and Khaalis are European imports, which continues to be a lucrative initiative for Go Racing who have also had success with Skyman, Alward, Raqeeq, Sir Pippin and Shibli.
A 40,000gns purchase in 2019, Mubariz has won over A$350,000 and Khaalis, a 45,000gns purchase in 2020, has already won over A$120,000.
Click here for a replay of Lord Ardmore’s win.
Click here for a replay of Khaalis’s win.