Go Racing start new season with a bang
Coming off the back of a successful 2022/23 racing season, the Go Racing team started the new term off with a flourish posting an Australian double over the weekend including a quinella in Brisbane.
On Saturday European imports Otyrar and Mubariz faced off in the Mount Franklin Handicap (2200m) at Eagle Farm with the former cruising away to win by just over three lengths on his Chris Waller stable mate.
Ridden by James Orman, Otyrar began well and settled in fourth, one off the fence. He travelled nicely throughout and circled the small field on straightening to come right away and score easily. Mubariz finished strongly but couldn’t quite match the winner’s turn of foot.
“It was great to kick the season off with a quinella in the city,” Go Racing’s Albert Bosma said. “Otyrar has been a bit unlucky so far with wide draws and other things not quite in his favour, so for him to be so dominant on Saturday was wonderful.
“He has been up a while now, there are a lack of races coming up for him so he will go out for a spell for probably six weeks and will improve with that.
“Mubariz is at the other end of his career as an eight-year-old. It was great to see him hit form again and he is likely to return to Brisbane in three week’s time for a 2000m race.”
A day later Go Racing’s sole runner Opera Belle cleared maiden ranks with a stylish win at Wodonga.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the four-year-old mare was having her first run over 2050m on the turf and relished the trip winning by an impressive four lengths.
“It was great to see her break her duck so convincingly over ground,” Bosma said. “It was her first time at the distance on the grass, she has a staying pedigree and it looks like she will go further.”
A daughter of Reliable Man, Opera Belle was purchased at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Sale and is a full sister to Listed winner Main Stage.
Click here for a replay of Otyrar’s win.
Photo: Otyrar gets the better of stablemate Mubariz (inside) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Trackside Photography