NZ Racing News

New Zealand syndicator Go Racing will be chasing stakes success on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, including in Melbourne, where Soul of Spain will contest the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

The proven stayer will be the first horse to carry Go Racing’s familiar silks in the race and the syndicator’s General Manager Matt Allnutt couldn’t be happier.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “That is what we are working towards with buying those horses from the UK.

“We are under no illusions as to how hard it is to win the race, but it is equally as hard to get a horse into the field, so we are thrilled and very excited.”

Go Racing purchased Soul of Spain three years ago at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale in France, in partnership with Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman, for €160,000, and he won one of his eight starts in the Northern Hemisphere before joining Chris Waller’s Sydney stable last year.

He subsequently won four races in Australia, and was runner-up behind Changingoftheguard in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick in April.

The six-year-old son of Phoenix of Spain has had four starts this preparation and placed in the Gr.2 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) two starts back before running seventh in the Gr.2 Metropolitan (2400m).

“I was at Randwick for his last start and immediately after the race I thought it was disappointing, but when you go back and look at the sectionals and the replay of the race, it was actually more tempo related than a below par performance from him,” Allnutt said.

“He has come through it well and Chris is really happy with his work. He has travelled down to Melbourne and galloped at Caulfield earlier in the week and we are happy and ready to go.”

TAB bookmakers are currently offering $34 for Soul of Spain on their fixed odds market for the Caulfield Cup, with New Zealand-bred Cosmic Crusader heading the market at $5.

While looking forward to Saturday, Allnutt said the two miles of next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) will be more to Soul of Spain’s liking.

“He won his maiden race in Ireland over 3319m, he has proven he can get the two miles, and he looks a nice Melbourne Cup horse,” Allnutt said. “It is hard to win that race, but I think he will give us a shot.”

Allnutt is hoping he won’t be Go Racing’s only representative in the race, with Omni Man and Manzor Blue also targeting the coveted staying feature.

Allnutt went to England to watch the Joseph O’Brien-trained Omni Man run fifth at Royal Ascot in June, and the five-year-old gelding has since placed in the Gr.3 Royal Whip Stakes (2011m) before making his way down to Australia.

“Omni Man ran fifth (at Royal Ascot) and he gave us a really good shout at the 200m mark and got collared late. It was good to be able to get up and have a good old scream and shout when you have a horse with a genuine chance,” Allnutt said.

“He is in Australia now and he missed out on the field for the Caulfield Cup, so he will go to the Geelong Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) or Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2500m) to try and get a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup.”

The Lisa Latta-trained Manzor Blue, who won the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and was runner-up in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), is on a similar trajectory if she gets the green light following a compulsory CT scan in Waikato tomorrow (Thursday).

“We will get it (CT scan) done here instead of travelling all the way over (to Melbourne),” Allnutt said. “If she passes, she will go over to Australia and go to either the Geelong Cup or Moonee Valley Gold Cup, and then hopefully into the Melbourne Cup. If she doesn’t pass the scans she will stay here and race in the New Zealand Cup.”

While next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton is Manzor Blue’s Plan B, Go Racing will have plenty of representation in the race, with the Charlotte Littlefield-trained Tajanis crossing the Tasman for the race, while the Kylie Hoskin-trained With Grace will head south from Auckland.

Tajanis has campaigned in New Zealand before, finishing runner-up in last year’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), when trained by Chris Waller, and Allnutt is looking forward to getting him back on this side of the Tasman.

“He is an out and out stayer, he is just starting to get warm over the two miles, so we thought we would bring him out here and have a crack at the New Zealand Cup,” he said. “We will have him in the New Zealand Cup along with With Grace. He arrives here on Saturday and will go to Kylie Hoskin’s at Byerley Park.”

Meanwhile, at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Stephen Marsh-trained Rose Aye Reign will carry Go Racing’s hopes in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).

The daughter of I Am Invincible had two unplaced runs as a juvenile last term, but has come of age this season, finishing runner-up to the highly fancied Getupoffathatthing over 1100m at Taupo last month before winning her maiden over 1200m at Te Rapa a fortnight later, beating stakes performer Phillyjean and Group Three performer Shalabiya.

While pleased with his filly heading into Saturday, Allnutt’s heart sunk a little on Wednesday when he saw she had drawn barrier 14, but he is still upbeat about a strong showing.

“She was just immature as a two-year-old and was doing everything wrong,” Allnutt said. “She has really come on this time in, she is a lot stronger physically, but mentally is where we have seen the most improvement. She is settling in her races and doing everything so much more professionally, which is holding her in good stead.

“She hasn’t drawn very well, and it is a very strong field. That (Soliloquy Stakes) has been her target race since she won at Te Rapa, with an eye to the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). We will go back, look to settle and get her relaxed and then be hitting the line strong, and hopefully she is showing us that she can run out a mile next start.”

– By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

New Zealand-based syndicators Go Racing realised a dream on Tuesday when Soul of Spain secured his place in Saturday’s A$6.545 million Gr.1 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m).

It will be the first time their silks are carried in the prestigious staying race, further validating their global strategy of racehorse ownership.

“It’s very exciting times for us and our owners,” Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt said. “To have a runner in the Caulfield Cup is an absolute dream and it proves that our plan works.

“We have been buying horses in the UK and Europe to race there as young horses under the care of Joseph O’Brien before transferring them down to Chris Waller to target the lucrative prizemoney on offer in Australia.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for our clients to experience the best of both hemispheres as racehorse owners.

“We’ve had plenty of success doing this already with Alward, Etna Rosso and Skyman to name a few, but having a runner in the Caulfield Cup is probably the pinnacle so far.

“Not only is it an extremely hard race to win, but it’s also tough to get a horse into the field and it will certainly be a very proud moment seeing the Go Racing colours in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday”.

Go Racing purchased Soul of Spain in partnership with Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman for €160,000 at the 2023 Arqana Breeze Up Sale in France.

From eight starts in Ireland, he placed on five occasions and won over 3299m at Thurles in October 2024.

Since joining Waller, he has put together a handy record, he won four races in a row last year culminating with the Gr.3 Newcastle gold Cup (2300m) and his total number of placings is now 11, from 25 starts and he has earned over A$1 million for connections.

Now six-years-old, Soul Of Spain comes into Saturday’s Group One feature having finished third in the Gr.3 Super Dry Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) two starts ago, and seventh in the Gr.2 Asahi Super Dry Metropolitan (2400m) last start. 

The son of Phoenix Of Spain has drawn barrier 13 of 15 for Saturday’s main event, and he will be ridden by Tyler Schiller.

“He’s a solid each-way chance,” Allnutt said. “It’s a competitive race every year and sometimes it just comes down to the horse that’s in great condition, gets a nice economical run and is presented at the right time.

“The blinkers go on, Chris and his team have been happy with his recent work and if there is solid speed in the race and if the breaks go his way, he is capable of fighting out the finish.

“Caulfield can be a bit of a tricky track, but he worked nicely there earlier in the week, handled the corners well and his recovery was good.”

Soul of Spain is raced by a group of New Zealand and Australian-based owners, who will be out in force at Caulfield on Saturday.

“Hospitality has been organised for them, I know they will have a terrific day regardless of the result and Go Racing’s representative Richard Lloyd will ensure they are well looked after.

“It’s a bucket list event for a lot of owners involved with Soul Of Spain and after a slightly nervous wait to see if he would make the field or not, the excitement is really starting to build now. 

“He is at long odds and will need luck from the draw, however Chris Waller is an absolute master trainer, and Tyler Schiller is in good form having ridden three winners at Rosehill last Saturday.”

 Soul Of Spain is also one of three runners that Go Racing have nominated for this year’s Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), alongside international raider Omni Man and Kiwi mare Manzor Blue.