NZ Racing News

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

New Zealand-based syndicators Go Racing came desperately close to winning two Group Three races on Everest Day at Royal Randwick in Australia on Saturday.

Etna Rosso was beaten by only 0.2 lengths in the A$500,000 Gr.3 Delta Building Automation St Leger Stakes (2600m) and Lord Penman finished second in the A$1 million Gr.3 Silver Eagle (1300m).

While the runner-up performances would have left many disappointed, Go Racing’s Albert Bosma is feeling optimistic for the future of both runners.

“We had a really exciting day even though we had no winners and we have a lot to look forward to with these horses” he said.

The margin was so narrow in the St Leger that even Zac Lloyd, who rode the winner Travolta, thought that Etna Rosso had won.

Trainer Chris Waller, who was represented by five runners in the race and took the first five placings, described Etna Rosso with one word – brave.

The same word that jockey Kerrin McEvoy used to describe the Irish import.

“He ran great, he’s very brave,” he said. “He was able to get a good spot and I thought he was a winner at the furlong, he just got out-bobbed but it was a great run.”

As of Sunday, Etna Rosso is in 34th position in the order of entry for the A$10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

“He might get in once horses start withdrawing and he could move up the order of entry on Saturday’s performance,” Bosma said. “We know that he runs two miles, and he’s got nice timing about him, any rain certainly wouldn’t bother him so it’s exciting to have him in contention.”

Go Racing’s other representative in the St Leger Soul Of Spain finished in third position 0.92 lengths behind Etna Rosso.

Bosma confirmed that he will now be spelled following a stellar preparation of five starts for three wins, a second, and Saturday’s third placing.

“He’s had a massive preparation; he will spell now and it’s all in front of him.”

Both horses are testament to Go Racing’s global model, in partnership with Blandford Bloodstock, of sourcing two-year-olds from the breeze up sales to initially run for Joseph O’Brien in the United Kingdom before transferring to Waller in Australia as older horses to target the lucrative prize money on offer.

Before the excitement of the St Leger had worn off, Go Racing were represented by another exciting prospect in Lord Penman, who finished second in the Silver Eagle behind Linebacker, instantly qualifying him for the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1.

“He ran a good second over a distance well short of his best and it’s exciting to now have a Golden Eagle contender,” Bosma said.

Jockey James McDonald was also happy with the run.

“Super run, he’s building nicely,” he said.

The former NZ-trained son of Contributer has previously won from 1400m to 1500m.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Go Racing’s Little Black Dress finished second in the $175,000 Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie behind her Stephen Marsh-trained stablemate Well Written.

The three-year-old daughter of Snitzel is nominated for both the $600,000 Gr.3 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas on November 8 and the $700,000 Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ 2000 Guineas on November 15 at Riccarton.

“We’ve got some horses there on the verge of a couple of Group One races in New Zealand and two A$10 million races in Australia,” Bosma said.

Photo: Etna Rosso (outside) is narrowly beaten by Travolta with Go Racing’s other runner Soul Of Spain in third – Bradley Photos.