Go Racing building a strong team for autumn
International racehorse syndicators Go Racing are heading into a busy weekend full of optimism with five runners across Australasia, some familiar names and a couple of exciting new recruits making their race day debuts.
“We’ve got some really nice horses resuming this weekend.” Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt said. “We have a really nice team of horses building around us and we’re looking forward to seeing where this preparation could take them.”
Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) hopeful Lord Penman resumes at Rosehill on Saturday for super expats, champion jockey James McDonald and champion trainer Chris Waller.
The four-year-old gelding has drawn barrier five in the Benchmark 100 Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m), in his first race-day appearance since the Golden Eagle in November.
“He’s had two nice easy trials leading into this and finished them off well,” Allnutt said. “He looks to have come back very well.”
Originally in the care of Stephen Marsh in Cambridge, Lord Penman had five runs in Australia last season, with his best result a second placing in the Gr.3 Silver Eagle (1300m).
“He acquitted himself well in Australia last season without winning, but he was in races like the Epsom and the Golden Eagle and he performed creditably in that company” Allnutt said. “He’s being aimed at the Doncaster this year and we believe he’s got a good season ahead of him.”
His stablemate Soul Of Spain is another with Group One ambitions this season, and Allnutt said he was pleased with his resuming run in which he finished ninth in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) last weekend.
“The 1400m was always going to be well short of his best but he’s come through the race well,” he said. “We’ve got a very high opinion of him and Chris is aiming him at the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on March 28, which looks to be a nice target for him.”
Meanwhile, at Taupō on Sunday, black-type filly Little Black Dress steps out in the Giltrap Agrizone– Taupō three-year-old 1200m event – her first race since finishing fourth in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.
“She trialled up enormously at Te Aroha in a Group and Listed trial last week,” Allnutt said. “She finished third under a hold and the jockey didn’t move on her.
“She had a busy campaign last season running in both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas and she ran really nice races in both with little luck.
“She looks to have come back bigger and stronger, and we expect a bold run from her on Sunday.”
The Stephen Marsh-trained filly has drawn barrier four and she will be ridden by George Rooke.
Her stablemate Alacritous also runs at Taupō on Sunday, in the Benchmark 65 Water Services NZ – Taupō (1100m).
She was a race winner at just her second race day appearance back in May.
“She trialled on a heavy track last month and she didn’t do much that day, but we know she doesn’t like heavy tracks, and she’s come on from that really well,” Allnutt said.
“Stephen’s really happy with her and he believes she’s a Group-class filly in the making.
“Coming into Sunday with just the one trial might make her a little bit vulnerable, but the 1100m should suit and she’s drawn the inside barrier with Craig Grylls in the saddle, so I think she’s also hard to beat.”
And, while those familiar names have whetted the appetite, Allnutt has two new names to note down: Rose Aye Reign and So Fear.
I Am Invincible filly Rose Aye Reign debuts at Ellerslie in the Eagle Charters (1100m) with George Rooke onboard for Stephen Marsh.
“She was a really nice trial winner at Ellerslie last week,” Allnutt said. “She will need luck as she’s drawn barrier ten in a strong field, but she looks to be a very talented filly based on what she’s done at the jump outs and trials so far. We’re looking forward to seeing her debut as she’s certainly a filly with plenty of upside.”
Her stablemate, Ardrossan filly So Fear will travel down to Whanganui for the Whanganui Function Centre 2YO 1200 with Courtney Barnes to ride from barrier five of five.
“She was also a very impressive trial winner at Ellerslie last week,” Allnutt said. “She has previously trialled well on a Heavy 10 track, so any cut in the ground won’t bother her.
“It’s only a small field but there’s a couple of smart ones in there that are stakes placed, but we do think she’s ready to run well too.”
Photo: Lord Penman, Bradley Photos