Go Racing are set for another big international weekend of racing with runners in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Italy, plus a sale kicking off in England on Monday.
Last start Gr.3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Je Zous will run in the Gr.2 Premio Lydia Tesio (2000m) on Champions Day in Rome on Sunday, in what will be her last start for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.
“She’s certainly our first runner in Italy,” Go Racing director Albert Bosma said. “It’s pretty exciting, it’s one of the biggest races in Italy as they don’t have Group Ones there anymore.
“It’s a weight for age fillies and mares race worth around NZ$475,000.
Je Zous owners will not have to travel so far to see her race in the future as she’s booked to fly to Australia next month.
“She will join Chris Waller’s stable in November,” Bosma said. “She’s a Zoustar filly with a staying pedigree and international black type so we’re really excited to see what she can do in Australia.
“She will have a light autumn preparation, probably aimed at The Championships and the long-term aim for her is next year’s Caulfield Cup.
The New Zealand-based syndicators have another Joseph O’Brien runner debuting in Ireland on Friday, with two-year-old Kitten’s Joy gelding Transfuse running at Dundalk.
They will also be represented by runners in Melbourne, Brisbane and Scone in Australia over the weekend and Taranaki, Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.
They have two runners, Diss is Dramatic and Make Time in the feature race at Wellington on Sunday, the Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m).
Bosma said that neither of the Lisa Latta-trained pair would mind a rain affected track, which is good news with rain predicted for Friday and Saturday.
“Diss Is Dramatic is a Group Two winner already and she went well first up last start and she’s improved since that run,” Bosma said.
“Make Time is coming to the end of his preparation but he’s racing in career best form and a wet track will certainly give him a winning chance.
“It’s another exciting weekend for everyone involved and we’re looking forward to cheering all our runners on across the globe.”
Looking ahead to Monday, Go Racing have last start winner Crystal Falls and Gee Cee entered from the stable of Stephen Marsh while they’ll also be sourcing their next international runners from the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in England.
“These horses will be heading to Chris Waller in December and we will also be buying one for Stephen Marsh to target at next season’s middle distance series in New Zealand, which is exciting. They’re usually racing by March, Bosma said. “We target the Australian arrivals at Saturday races where the prize money is a minimum of NZ$175,000 in Sydney on a Saturday and then Group and Cups racing.”
Anyone interested should register their interest by phoning 0508 GO RACING (0508 467224) or email albert@goracing.co.nz.
Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but it proved to be lucky for Go Racing syndicate member Antoinette McLeod and five-year-old mare Crystal Falls on Wednesday.
The Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Sacred Falls was a popular winner of the Skycity Horizon 2100 at Pukekohe Park, at her thirteenth start.
Amongst those on course to celebrate the win was part-owner and Go Racing Account Manager Antoinette McLeod who has waited thirteen years to get a winner of her own.
McLeod is well accustomed to celebrating the wins of her employers however it was her first time celebrating a win of her own, as a member of the Go Racing Nashville Syndicate.
“Antoinette was there with Albert (Bosma, Go Racing Director) and his wife Melissa,” Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt said.
“She’s been with us for thirteen years and has always celebrated everyone else’s wins so to finally get her moment in the sun is just the icing on the cake.
“It was a great result for all of her connections, many of whom were on course today, there was a lot of excitement and joy all round.”
Given a beautiful ride by Vinnie Colgan, Crystal Falls was quick away from barrier five, she settled in the one-one position and made a sustained run from the 600-metre mark wearing down the leaders to win by a comfortable length and a quarter on the line.
Luck has not always been on Crystal Falls side, however it is hoped that Wednesday’s visit to the winners’ circle may be emblematic of a change of fortune.
“She’s probably been one of the unluckiest horses we’ve got racing,” Allnutt said. “Every time we have thought that she would win something has gone wrong.
“She nearly got brought down by a fallen horse in November last year and she got badly galloped on at Te Aroha in November.”
In that incident she sustained a severe laceration to her right hind leg which resulted in three months box rest.
“She had a decent spell after that and she’s come back well and it was great to see her pick up her maiden win today,” Allnutt said.
“Her next race will be a $40,000 benchmark 65 over 2400 metres at Te Rapa on the 28th of October and we are all hoping she can go on with the job from this point.”
Photo: Melissa and Antoinette celebrating post race.
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