|
ALTHOUGH virtually unwanted as a yearling, Queensland’s
latest boom two-year-old Golden Fox on Saturday provided
trainer Trevor Whittington with his first Group win
since moving to the Gold Coast.
Ridden by Scott Seamer, Golden Fox (G2 Foxhound-Sweet
Humam) raced away to an impressive win in the G3
Northern City Finance Champagne Classic at NCF Doomben
beating Star Shiraz and Our Sweet Moss.
Part owner Michael Owen paid only $2,000 for the
swaybacked Golden Fox at the 2003 Magic Millions
National Winter yearling sale. This was the gelding’s
fourth win in a row from five starts, taking his
earnings to $107,900.
Whittington will now run Golden Fox in the G1 Borelli
Hand Made Clothing QTC Sires Produce at Eagle Farm
on June 5 before giving him a well-earned spell,
with a spring carnival campaign in mind.
“This is my first Group race win since moving
permanently to Australia from New Zealand nine years
ago. I had 12 Group wins when I was training in New
Zealand, including one in Sydney,” Whittington
said.
“Golden Fox is a lovely horse to work with
and he is just improving all the time. He’s
relaxing now but in his previous runs he was just
going for speed up front.
“That role limited the distance he could run
effectively. But if he keeps relaxing, there’s
no telling how far he might go,” Whittington
said.
Star Shiraz lost no admirers finishing second, which
took her record to two wins and four seconds from
six starts for prizemoney of $193,400, including
QTIS bonuses of $84,000. She cost $15,000 as a yearling.
The Rex Lipp-trained filly also chased Golden Fox
home in the Listed Golden Stakes at Doomben when
they both last raced on May 1.
Seamer, who had ridden Golden Fox in his two previous
wins, proved a good judge, declaring that Golden
Fox would win Group races after the Golden Stakes
success.
Third in the race was the Gerald Ryan-trained Our
Sweet Moss, which had only one start prior to Saturday’s
Group 3 assignment. She won a Sunshine Coast Two-Year-Old
Maiden in December.
Recent Sydney Stakes winner, Genius And Evil, finished
fourth.
QUEENSLAND RACING carnival news: Ray See – May
24.
|
