by Bren O'Brien
Having secured a breakthrough maiden victory with smart 2-year-old Tommy Gold (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) by dropping him back in class at Randwick on Wednesday, trainer John O'Shea has promised to be patient with the colt going forward.
Ridden well off the pace by Glen Boss, Tommy Gold quickened very nicely at the top of the straight and posted a very soft 1.5l win. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Dance (Not A Single Doubt) finished second in a blanket finish, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Narvaez (Vancouver) finishing third.
It was a fourth start for Tommy Gold, who had been freshened off his seventh place, beaten 4.2l by Mamaragan (Wandjina), in the G2 Skyline S. in February.
A homebred for Waikato Stud's Chittick family and bearing their famous white, green and blue colours, he showed considerable improvement in maturity on his previous runs, with Boss starting his run well before the turn and allowing him all the momentum to sweep over the top of his rivals.
"It was all about where he was going to be in the run. Once he got on the back of Ado's horse (Narvaez) it was going to get him to where we needed to go. When he turned for home, he was going better than that one and Bossy popped him out and the rest was history," O'Shea said.
"When he turned for home, he was going better than that one and Bossy popped him out and the rest was history." - John O'Shea
The trainer is in no hurry to rush Tommy Gold back to stakes grade and will look to build his confidence with another win before reserving him for spring targets.
"We will get him home and give some thought to it and take stock of what Glen has to say. He's probably still learning his craft. If we can get another run into him during the winter and give him a nice break, we will give consideration to something for him in the spring," he said.
Glen Boss
Boss agreed that the colt would benefit greatly by being given further time to develop.
"He's alluded to that throughout his preparation. He's been unlucky in a few races, but a lot of it has been greenness. He's got himself in the wrong spot," he said.
"I know we are getting close to the winter but I think that was a nice 2-year-old race. There were some horses who trialled really well. You could see some cracking types.
"He's a horse you can follow because he was pretty impressive. He is going to improve. The good turn of speed he showed, I was impressed. He got to the front very quickly and idled all the way up the straight."
The late Sacred Falls (NZ), sire of Tommy Gold (NZ)
Tommy Gold becomes the first 2-year-old winner in Australia for former Waikato Stud stallion Sacred Falls (NZ), who unfortunately passed away in December after an illness.
O'Shea was rapt to have trained a winner for the Chitticks, who he has developed a good relationship with.
"I love to buy their horses and they are kind enough to send me a nice one on the odd occasion and this is no exception. Their young stallion Sacred Falls has passed away, but we have got quite a few of them in the yard and they just need a bit of time," he said.
"Their young stallion Sacred Falls has passed away, but we have got quite a few of them in the yard and they just need a bit of time." - John O'Shea
"This bloke is no different, he has got plenty to offer and so hopefully, it’s the start of a nice racing career, because he is a nice colt."
He becomes the fifth winner from as many runners for G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), who has produced three stakes winners in Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel), Gold Rush (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) and Calaverite (Lonhro).
Gold Rush is listed as Lot 40 in the Rosemont Exclusive Online Sale to be conducted by Magic Millions on May 25 and 26. She is in foal to Savabeel.
Gold Rocks' yearling colt by Savabeel sold for NZ$500,000 to Te Akau Racing's David Ellis at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka. She lost a foal to Savabeel last year before returning to the same stallion again in 2019.
