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One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman has bounced back to winning form for the first time in more than 18-months when leading throughout to score in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman last saluted in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March of last year which rocketed him to 2023 Cup favouritism. While subsequent preparations haven’t gone to plan, Goldman relished being in his favoured on-speed ride under Beau Mertens and out-toughed runner-up Grand Pierro in winning the A$300,000 feature. Muramasa made the best ground from last, while Smokin Romans battled on well after tracking the speed, but all honours were with the winner. Third-up and getting out to his preferred staying distance, the six-year-old son of Verdi ensured syndicator Darby Racing again remained in the limelight after a remarkable run through December. “I spoke to Gai this morning, and the only instructions were to give it a Gai Waterhouse ride – it’s pretty simple when she wants that done,” winning jockey Beau Mertens said. “They presented the horse in great order for me to do so and once I jumped and got to the front I had a very enjoyable time and built from the 800m. In typical Waterhouse fashion, they keep running. “Probably in the last 100m, Grand Pierro came up alongside and really tested him, but my bloke dug deep and was strong.” The win also held some personal significance to the in-form hoop, who emulated his late father Peter in riding a Pakenham Cup winner, with Peter successful in 2002 and 2004. “It’s unbelievable. Many years later, we (have both) got the job done, it’s always good picking off races that Dad won,” he said. Goldman has now won six of 18 starts, with a further three placings and amassed $640,368 in prizemoney. The stayer is a son of the Zabeel stallion Verdi, a half-brother to the multiple Group One winners Sir Slick and Puccini, who stands at Long Acres Stud in Canterbury. Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Verdi won three of his eight starts and had Group One potential before a tendon injury pre-maturely ended his career. Bred by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Goldman is out of the Montjeu mare Goldsmith and won two of his four starts in New Zealand for the Smithies and original trainer Tony Pike. Goldman was sold to syndicators Darby Racing via bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo following a narrow victory over 1600m at Pukekohe in November 2022. View the full article

The good times keep on rolling for connections of winning machine Here To Shock(NZ) (Shocking) who plundered the inaugural A$1 million Supernova at Pakenham over his favoured 1400m distance for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. The seven-year-old son of Shocking bounced back to winning form after a rare down the field effort when tenth in the A$3 million Big Dance (1600m), where he pulled up with a heart arrhythmia. A subsequent pleasing trial gave the Hayes team the tick of approval they were seeking and a perfect Daniel Stackhouse ride paved the way for Here To Shock to narrowly defy stablemate Arkansaw Kid in the lucrative slot race. The ever-improving Here To Shock has now won 12 races, eight over his preferred 1400m as his career earnings soared to A$2,418,580. “Here To Shock, he’s an old marvel – we were confident we could get him back after the Big Dance,” a delighted Will Hayes said. “We had our eye on this race from a long way out, that’s why he was in our slot today. “Getting back to those paddocks in Euroa, he loves the country environment. He had the earmuffs on today to keep him relaxed, and keeping him relaxed has been key to him going through the grades. “Arkansaw Kid ran huge, big thanks to Cavallo Park Stud for letting us put him in that slot… they both ran super.” The win also splits $10,000 between the community groups represented by each placegetter, with the winner tied into to the Pearcedale Baxter Junior Football Club. “Winning is already great enough, and having a community edge to it just makes it better,” said Hayes, an accomplished former AFL player. Daniel Stackhouse notched a treble at Pakenham on Saturday and said the improvement in Here To Shock’s demeanour has been the key to the gelding’s success. “I rode him two and a half years ago, and he was just a young kid, just out of control really,” Stackhouse said. “He’d sweat up, he’d pull, he just did so much wrong but he always had a lot of ability. “It has been a great job by the stable.” Stackhouse gave a nod to syndicator Rob Slade, who has been a good supporter of the expat Kiwi hoop. “I’d just like to thank Rob Slade as well, he’s been solid to me, so it’s nice to reward him,” he said. Slade went to $70,000 to purchase the then colt by proven Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking out of the Lonhro mare Frescoes from the 2019 Cambridge Stud yearling draft at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka. View the full article

Four-year-old gelding Gold Bullion dug deep to stave off all challengers when leading throughout to land the Listed Seven Members Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The son of Savabeel was ridden to victory by Regan Bayliss and looks set to leave his mark on the Queensland Summer Carnival as he chases further stakes success. Now the winner of three of his 14 starts with a further five placings, Gold Bullion was second-up after finishing third over 1400m on the Kensington track a fortnight ago. “He was really brave today,” stable representative Juliet Partridge said. “He’s had a pretty easy week up here in Queensland and has just been working nicely enjoying the warm weather. “He is a lovely horse that is very straight forward and is glowing in the coat.” Partridge indicated Gold Bullion would be aimed at the A$500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast on January 4. Winning rider Regan Bayliss was full of praise for Gold Bullion who narrowly defeated Junipal and Poetic Drama. “It was a really good tough win,” Bayliss said. “We got a lovely lead and he got into a beautiful rhythm for me and I just upped the tempo from the 600m and tried to get them chasing a little bit. “Junipal headed me with 100m to go, but to my guy’s credit he pinned the ears back and hit the line strongly. “He was only second-up today and I think at his next start he will step out to 1800m which will suit him even better. “He has come back a lot better this preparation and the sky is the limit.” Raced by a syndicate and sporting the colours of the China Horse Club, Gold Bullion is by Waikato Stud’s champion sire Savabeel and out of the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Gold Rush, a daughter of So You Think. View the full article

Four-year-old gelding Gold Bullion showed grit and determination, leading all the way to win the Listed Seven Members Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Photo Credit: Grant Peters Four-year-old gelding Gold Bullion dug deep to stave off all challengers when leading throughout to land the Listed Seven Members Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The son of Savabeel was ridden to victory by Regan Bayliss and looks set to leave his mark on the Queensland Summer Carnival as he chases further stakes success. Now the winner of three of his 14 starts with a further five placings, Gold Bullion was second-up after finishing third over 1400m on the Kensington track a fortnight ago. “He was really brave today,” stable representative Juliet Partridge said. “He’s had a pretty easy week up here in Queensland and has just been working nicely enjoying the warm weather. “He is a lovely horse that is very straight forward and is glowing in the coat.” Partridge indicated Gold Bullion would be aimed at the A$500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast on January 4. Seven Members Mile Race Replay – Gold Bullion https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagle-Farm-2024-Listed-Seven-Memberts-Mile-21122024-Gold-Bullion-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-Regan-Bayliss.mp4 Winning rider Regan Bayliss was full of praise for Gold Bullion who narrowly defeated Junipal and Poetic Drama. “It was a really good tough win,” Bayliss said. “We got a lovely lead and he got into a beautiful rhythm for me and I just upped the tempo from the 600m and tried to get them chasing a little bit. “Junipal headed me with 100m to go, but to my guy’s credit he pinned the ears back and hit the line strongly. “He was only second-up today and I think at his next start he will step out to 1800m which will suit him even better. “He has come back a lot better this preparation and the sky is the limit.” Raced by a syndicate and sporting the colours of the China Horse Club, Gold Bullion is by Waikato Stud’s champion sire Savabeel and out of the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Gold Rush, a daughter of So You Think. Horse racing news View the full article

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman triumphed in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman has bounced back to winning form for the first time in more than 18-months when leading throughout to score in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman last saluted in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March of last year which rocketed him to 2023 Cup favouritism with the top online bookmakers. While subsequent preparations haven’t gone to plan, Goldman relished being in his favoured on-speed ride under Beau Mertens and out-toughed runner-up Grand Pierro in winning the A$300,000 feature. Muramasa made the best ground from last, while Smokin Romans battled on well after tracking the speed, but all honours were with the winner. 2024 Pakenham Cup Race Replay – Goldman https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Pakenham-2024-Listed-Pakenham-Cup-21122024-Goldman-Gai-Waterhouse-Adrian-Bott-Beau-Mertens.mp4 Third-up and getting out to his preferred staying distance, the six-year-old son of Verdi ensured syndicator Darby Racing again remained in the limelight after a remarkable run through December. “I spoke to Gai this morning, and the only instructions were to give it a Gai Waterhouse ride – it’s pretty simple when she wants that done,” winning jockey Beau Mertens said. “They presented the horse in great order for me to do so and once I jumped and got to the front I had a very enjoyable time and built from the 800m. In typical Waterhouse fashion, they keep running. “Probably in the last 100m, Grand Pierro came up alongside and really tested him, but my bloke dug deep and was strong.” The win also held some personal significance to the in-form hoop, who emulated his late father Peter in riding a Pakenham Cup winner, with Peter successful in 2002 and 2004. “It’s unbelievable. Many years later, we (have both) got the job done, it’s always good picking off races that Dad won,” he said. Goldman has now won six of 18 starts, with a further three placings and amassed $640,368 in prizemoney. The stayer is a son of the Zabeel stallion Verdi, a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winners Sir Slick and Puccini, who stands at Long Acres Stud in Canterbury. Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Verdi won three of his eight starts and had Group 1 potential before a tendon injury pre-maturely ended his career. Bred by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Goldman is out of the Montjeu mare Goldsmith and won two of his four starts in New Zealand for the Smithies and original trainer Tony Pike. Goldman was sold to syndicators Darby Racing via bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo following a narrow victory over 1600m at Pukekohe in November 2022. Horse racing news View the full article