Go Racing aiming to start November with a bang
New Zealand-based syndicators Go Racing will kick off the new month with two big-money contenders at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
They’ll be represented by the Chris Waller-trained Lord Penman in the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) and the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Maison Louis in the A$750,000 Gr.3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
“It’s a great time of year to be a racing enthusiast,” Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt said. “Things really start to ramp up now, and we’re hoping to start November with a bang this weekend.”
Unwanted as a two-year-old, Lord Penman followed a different path into Go Racing’s syndication from most of their runners, which are typically purchased at the sales.
“He passed in at the Ready To Run sale so we decided to race him ourselves along with Bruce and Stephen Marsh. He proved to be a successful racehorse, so we later syndicated him while keeping shares ourselves.
“He’s now had four starts in Australia, and he hasn’t really had much luck yet. He’s run two seconds, and he was very unlucky in his other two runs.”
His last-start second behind Linebacker in the Gr.3 Silver Eagle (1300m) qualified him for Saturday’s Golden Eagle, giving him a chance to claim a share of the $10 million stake.
However, Allnutt admits it will take some sorcery to win from the widest barrier, gate 16—though they may have the right jockey for the job in ‘The Magic Man’, Joao Moreira.
“We’re realistic with our expectations,” he said. “We were hoping for a decent draw to give ourselves a chance, but barrier 16 certainly makes it tough.
“One positive, though, is having Joao Moreira aboard. He rode with great success for Bruce (Marsh) when he was training in Singapore, and I know Bruce is thrilled to have him on the horse. Hopefully, he gives him a good ride and gives him every chance.”
Ten percent of all prizemoney earned by Lord Penman in the Golden Eagle will be donated to his charity partner, The Sony Foundation Australia.
In the very next race, last season’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Maison Louis is the $4.20 the second favourite in the Rosehill Gold Cup.
The highly regarded four-year-old finished third behind Lindermann and Attrition in the Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) last start.
“He is a very good horse,” Allnut said. “John and Tom have just taken him along quietly this season, but his run in the Hill Stakes was very good.
“He made up excellent ground late, and the form is very good out of that race – since then Lindermann won the Craven Plate (Gr.3, 1800m) and Attrition finished fourth in the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) behind Via Sistina.”
Allnutt said that the Pencarrow Stud-bred Maison Louis looks a strong chance to provide further excitement for his syndicate members, including Pencarrow’s Sir Peter Vela on Saturday.
“There’s a lot in his favour,” he said. “He’s trained on beautifully, he’s drawn barrier two, he’s back to handicap conditions, and he should get a lovely run throughout. If the gaps appear at the right time, he can be right in the finish.”
Dylan Gibbons, who has ridden him in his last two starts, retains the ride.
Meanwhile, the Go Racing team will find out on Saturday whether their European import Etna Rosso has made the field for the A$10 million Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup. He currently sits 30th in the order of entry for the 24-horse race.
“He’s an outside chance of making the field but we’re still hanging on to hope,” he said. “We certainly haven’t given up hope of making the field, and if he does it will be a real highlight.
“There’s a good group of owners ready to fly over if he gets a run—it’s a nervous but exciting wait.”
Photo: Penman takes his place in the A$10 million Golden Eagle on Saturday, Bradley Photography