September 17th, 2008

Yet another impressive performance by up-and-comer Gilded Venom at Belmont on Saturday, for the son of Golden Snake, recording his fourth impressive metropolitan victory in a row.

The smart winner of two Ascot races (1600m and 1800m) back in February, the Steve Wallace trained five-year-old has returned in even better form – successful first up over 1300m under the steadier of 59kg.

Up to the 1400m second up he was even stronger, saluting by a length and looking to have plenty in hand.

“I still think he has a few lengths in him,” Wallace enthused – “and he will get better over further.”

Jockey Shaun O’Donnell was also impressed – “it’s nice to pick up the good ones and just steer them!” he said.

Described by WATC scribes as “an open class galloper with the attributes to suggest he can make a top shelf galloper,” Gilded Venom has now won five of 14 and just short of $150,000 in stakes.

Providing an excellent return on the $22,000 he cost as a Perth Magic Millions yearling, Gilded Venom was one of his sire Golden Snake’s four runners on the weekend – and they were all in the money!

Lady Snake, Master Sin and Surprise Strike – all typical of the breed in that they perform consistently – were each in the placings around Australia on Sunday. Meanwhile a few days previously Bollin Freddie was in winning form in Ireland.

Golden Snake was a reliable galloper himself, winning six of 15 and finishing in the placings on a further three occasions. A four times Gr.1 winner, he was always well thought of in the UK where descriptions of him recorded by the esteemed publication Racing Post included…

“Golden Snake looks a particularly good prospect.”

“He is a grand sort and still improving.”

Meanwhile his trainers Barry Hills and John Gosden also had good things to say about the regally bred entire…

“He's got a good, relaxed temperament and a high cruising speed.”

“He was the most delightful and easy horse to train. He had a wonderful character and temperament and he always worked well.”

“He’s very game and a very good performer – I’m absolutely delighted with him.”

“He’s a very brave horse.”

September 14th, 2008

Two successful Saturdays in a row for Bombora Downs’ emerging young stallion Golden Snake.

On August 30 an impressive return to the track by Gilded Venom at Belmont, the well regarded five-year-old resuming over 1300m and showing great determination to win at his first outing since February.

A horse who has always shown promise – winning two in a row in easy style at Ascot over the summer – Gilded Venom has improved markedly as he has risen in distance.

And so his 1300m victory suggests that he has come up extra well although trainer Steve Wallace still feels that the best is yet to come – “he is a very nice horse,” he said, “but he is still doing a bit wrong – he is still learning to be a racehorse.”

A week later and the lightly raced Just Hiss broke her maiden in impressive style at Stawell. Always travelling well, she gathered in her rivals quickly when asked for an effort – impressing jockey Garry Murphy with the style in which she got home.

“She sustained a long run to the post and pulled away over the final stages,” enthused her owners Jason & Bianca Pavy.

“She dug deep and just kept fighting just like her dad did in his races!”

“We think there are many more wins in store,” the continued, 

“She still needs to fill out a bit so there should be lots of improvement as she steps up in distance.”

Gilded Venom and Just Hiss are just two of several up and coming progeny of the promising young stallion Golden Snake.

A four times Gr.1 winner from 1800m to 2400m, Golden Snake had an excellent turn of foot – able to win at two and also showing himself to be a classy miler.

No surprise then that his progeny have been capable of winning at two – and that, like their sire, they just keep getting better!

Another promising runner for Golden Snake last week, his debutant daughter Tennessee Charm – an $85,000 Melbourne Premier graduate – really catching the eye with an encouraging second at Ballarat.

A half sister to Apache Cat, Tennessee Charm is a good looking chestnut with a bright future – having been well thought of by trainer Greg Eurell from the time she came into the stables.

Golden Snake’s consistent son Dimmy Simmy charged home for a Wyong third on the same day whilst his honest stakes placed daughter Paloma Bella is not far from a win after finishing in the placings at each of her last five starts.

Meanwhile the likes of Golden Image, Hissing Sid, Master Sin, Lady Snake, Viperella, Queimada Grande, Snakes And Ladders and Casual Affair have been in recent winning form whilst the lightly raced city placed Extremely Hissed has his hoof on the till. 

And the extra smart Wayne’s Gold is close to kicking off her spring campaign – as is the Bart Cummings trained Antidotes who caught the eye performing well in a recent trial.

Trainers enjoy preparing Golden Snake’s stock as they are durable, tough and sound – the very attributes of their sire who raced 15 times over four seasons – winning six races. He was a stayer with pace – the perfect horse for Australian conditions.

August 6th, 2008

The roll continues for in form young stallion Golden Snake, his son Queimada Grande a tough winner at Geelong recently.  

Making the pace and being clearly headed half way down the straight, the 4Y0 dug deep for rider Kane Bradley – showing great grit and determination, trademarks of the breed.

“Full credit to the horse,” Bradley enthused, “he fought back hard!”

Recording the fourth career victory at only his second run this preparation, the Ray Besanko trained 4Y0 has proven a versatile galloper – winning on different tracks in varied conditions.

Queimada Grande's success continued on from a promising win by Golden Snake's New Zealand based daughter Viperella at Paeroa last week. The full sister to the stakes placed Wayne's Gold raced away over the final stages, putting nearly two lengths on her rivals.

Up-and-coming impressive metropolitan winners Hissing Sid and Golden Charmer are other recent winners for Golden Snake whose progeny are racing in great form whilst the stakes placed Paloma Bella is close to a win after two smart efforts this preparation. Dimmy Simmy is also racing well and he charged home at Wyong on Thursday, just missing out on providing his sire with a double.

These gallopers (all but Hissing Sid and Golden Charmer bred by Lynden Park's Jill Ross whilst Hissing Sid was foaled there) have inherited Golden Snake's strength in a finish – always responding well to pressure and showing plenty of heart. 

“As shown by his record of six wins from 15 starts Golden Snake possessed a terrific will to win,” said Julie Nairn who manages the Victorian owned stallion's career -  “and his progeny are displaying the same trait.” Nairn, who stands Golden Snake at the picturesque Bombora Downs at Bittern.

20th July 2008

The outstanding win of Hissing Sid in the Slicpix Cup at Caulfield on Saturday, begs the question, how good is he?
Hissing Sid was badly held up for a run before the home turn, jockey Wayne Hokai weaved a path between runners near the rail to enable Hissing Sid to wear down topweight Davcon to win the Slickpix Cup (2000m).

The three-year-old drew barrier one in the fifteen strong three-year-old handicap and began well but was caught in traffic. Seek The Stars moved up sharply inside the 800m to claim the front and then travelled well as they came around the home turn. While back in the field Hokai was looking for a bit of room on Hissing Sid. 

As Hokai was looking for runs Davcon raced around the outside of the pack to get within striking distance. Davcon (Anglila - Royal Persepoly by Persepolis) found the front inside the 250m and as he did Hissing Sid found a bit of space and the tall leggy bay raced up to him to race clear and claim a very impressive half-length victory. 

Blue Oscar (Casual Lies - Blairlogie by Kings Island), finished the race off well and was one-and-three-quarter lengths away in third

Not many young horses can be held up for a run at Caulfield as badly as Hissing Sid was on Saturday and still manage to win. 

Hissing Sid's win was his third career victory and took his earnings past $80,000, a nice return for his connections, as he had been purchased at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Premier II yearling sale from the Lindsay Park (as agent) by Badgers Bloodstock for $25,000.

Hissing Sid is the second winner for his dam Domitrix (by At Talaq) who has no wins to her credit. She is also the dam of Keytochache (by Langfuhr) a winner of three races in South Australia. 

Domitrix's grandam is the Group I STC Rosehill Guineas winner, Deck The Halls (by Father Christmas) herself a very good producer being the dam of Above Deck (by Godswalk), winner of 16 races and the Listed Balaklava Cup. His full-sister is the stakes placed Flight Deck. Our Loch Tay (by Salmon Leap), winner of five races in New Zealand, is in turn the dam of the South African Group I Turffontein Gold Bowl winner, Lady of the Turf (by Kenfair) and another daughter Halfa (by At Talaq), winner of two races, is the dam of the Group I BTC Doomben Cup winner Above Deck (by Bianconi).

Prepared at Warrnambool by Bill Wilde who believes Hissing Sid is a stayer of the future. 

Wilde told TVN after the win that he had gone into the race with the intention of putting him away until the autumn and that is what he intends to do.

Hissing Sid is by Golden Snake who stands at Bombora Downs on the scenic Mornington Peninsula at a very reasonable fee of $6,600 (inc gst) .

June 23rd, 2008

An impressive metropolitan winner for Golden Snake at Moonee Valley on Saturday, his up-and-coming daughter Golden Charmer racing away for an impressive victory in the final event.

Despite her long odds, Golden Charmer had credible lead up form – having always shown promise but not enjoying the best of luck in several races. Hard on the heels of the placegetters at her previous outing at Ballarat, she struggled to get a clear run and at her previous outing she got too far back in a slowly run race.

But all went well for her this time, the three-year-old enjoying a good run behind the leaders – a strong kick at the top of the straight giving her a winning break.

“She travelled well,” said jockey Dean Yendall, “and she was pretty tough – she did a good job. Over the final stages she was just giving, giving, giving.”

Trainer Danny O'Sullivan was pleased to see Golden Charmer in the winners circle, having always had a good opinion of her.

“She has shown herself to be tough without having had much luck in her races,” he said, adding that “she is still learning.”

Confident that Golden Charmer will continue to improve as she steps up in distance, he was enthusiastic when asked if she would be all the better next time in.

“No doubt about it!”

Golden Charmer was bred and is raced by Peter Cameron and Maureen Black. She is the eighth foal produced by their now retired Dahar mare Georgia Jean, also dam of the stakes placed multiple winner Scenic Scene and three other winners.

Considered by her owners as “the best conformed horse we have bred,” Golden Charmer is the first of Georgia Jean's two Golden Snakes, a two-year-old bay colt being given time to mature.

Part of a great run for the progeny of Golden Snake, Golden Charmer is one of her four times Gr.1 winning sire's 42 individual winners from limited runners to date. Golden Snake's money earners to runners strike rate sits on a healthy 72% from his first two crops.

His oldest Australian progeny are four and he has been well represented by the likes of stakes winner Antidotes, stakes placegetters Wayne's Gold and Paloma Bella and recent promising winners Point Of Impact, Gold Gauntlet, Surprise Strike, Dimmy Simmy and Golden Papillon.

Also faring well in Europe where Cuba Candy was crowned Austria's Champion 3Y0, Golden Snake is in Australia to stay – Bombora Downs on the scenic Mornington Peninsula his new home from this spring.

Due to the EI outbreak Golden Snake was prevented from entering Victoria last year, covering a handful of mares in NSW on a private basis. Golden Snake (who did not contract the disease) will be warmly welcomed back by mare owners who view him as the ideal owner/breeder horse – a stallion who sires tough, sound winning progeny with scope to go on as older horses.

“He fills a gap in the market,” said Lynden Park Stallions' Julie Nairn who manages Golden Snake's career - “we have many breeders telling us that they would rather breed a durable horse with a good turn of foot with strength and stamina than an early coming type with a limited career.”

“There are many more chances to win good mile and classic races including some fantastic staying races than there are to win big juvenile events so for the average breeder a stallion like Golden Snake is an excellent option.”
“He has sired winners from 1100m to 2500m and like their sire, who won at two, they just get better as they mature.”

Standing this season at $6,600 with extended payment terms available on request.

May 8th, 2008

   The roll continues for in-form stallion Golden Snake (Danzig – Dubian by High Line) with the win of his smart son Golden Papillon at Moonee Valley on Wednesday.   Sent out favourite when stepping up to the 1600m, the Chris Hyland trained four-year-old was always travelling well for Damien Oliver – rounding his rivals up from before the turn and racing away to a soft 1-1/4 length victory.
  It was Golden Papillon's metropolitan debut, the chestnut having previously won three races at Benalla and Ballarat. Boasting a remarkably consistent record, he has been out of the placing's only once – and that was a close up fourth!

  “He is a good horse,” enthused Hyland who was enjoying his first city double, “who tries his heart out every time – just the type of horse you like to have!”
  “He has been progressing his way through the classes,” he added, “and he is now entitled to have a go and something better.”
  Catching the eye of Hyland's racing manager Rowan Hughes at the Melbourne Premier where he fetched $80,000, Golden Papillon – for whom the Winter Championship series is one option – still has plenty of scope for improvement.
  “I think he is still six months away,” said Hughes, adding that the gelding has always been “a nice, neat horse.”
  Golden Snake, a four times Gr.1 winner who found form at two and really raced on, has been enjoying a great run of late. Since the start of March 11 of his progeny have won 13 races – displaying their versatility by winning on a variety of tracks at distances between 1200m and 2400m.
  Tough and sound like their sire, the Golden Snake breed are proving popular with trainers impressed with their strength and desire to race. Little wonder they are doing so well with Golden Snake's pedigree as impressive as it is.
A son of the outstanding sire of sires in Danzig, Golden Snake is a son of the Italian Champion Older Mare Dubian, also dam of the wonderful Sayyedati – Champion 3Y0 Filly who raced on to be crowned European Champion Older Mare.
  Thoroughbred families don't come much tougher or more durable than this, making Golden Snake the ideal horse for owner/breeders. They get to the track and they run! Just ask the happy connections of such talented black type performers as Antidotes, Paloma Bella and Wayne's Gold and the up-and-comers The Corkscrew, Surprise Strike, Hissing Sid and Point Of Impact.

  Golden Snake (still managed by Lynden Park) takes residence at picturesque Bombora Downs at Bittern this spring – due to stand alongside Desert King whose champion son Desert War bowed out with a gallant Gr.1 fourth last weekend. Congratulations to his owner/breeders Gooree Stud on his stellar record of 12 wins and over $3 million in stakes.

May 4th, 2008

  An exciting new winner for Golden Snake, his lightly raced son Hissing Sid racing away to an easy victory at only his second start at Warrnambool on Wednesday.  Well backed into favouritism the Bill Wilde trained three-year-old was always travelling well after jumping from a wide gate and when asked for an effort over the final stages he exploded.

  “I thought I'd set him a bit of a task,” Wilde said, referring to the awkward gate and the strength of the maiden, “but he was very strong – and he was eased up over the last 100m.”
“It was an impressive win.”
  Proving four lengths too classy for his rivals, Hissing Sid – a $25,000 Melbourne Premier II yearling from the Deck The Halls family – looks to have a bright future.
  “He is a lovely horse,” Wilde said - “an imposing individual with a great physique. He is a nice staying horse for the future.”
  Proving themselves tough, sound and consistent like their four times Gr.1 winning sire, the Golden Snakes have been in fine form of late – his April winners including Big Snake, Surprise Strike, Point Of Impact, Gold Gauntlet and Pertemps Networks whilst in March he was well represented by Golden Charmer, Surprise Strike, Snake Skin, Golden Papillon and The Corkscrew.
  Four well related weanlings by Golden Snake are due to go under the hammer at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands Junction on May 15 & 16...
  Lot 52, a full sister to the promising stakes placed Paloma Bella and half sister to the Listed winner Troubadour out of the six times winning Rory's Jester mare Ton Of Fun, a half sister to the triple stakes winner O'Hara.
  Lot 80 out of a half sister to the dual Listed winner Isolated Duke from the family of the speedy stakes winners In The Bahamas, Harley Ma, Grand Duchy and Sister Patricia.
  Lot 112, whose dam is a half sister to the classy juvenile and excellent broodmare Peeping – ancestress of the stakes winners Watch, Overclock, Agent Provocative, Super Snooper, Forest Spy and Snooping. Family of the legendary brothers Todman and Noholme II.
  Lot 353 is a daughter of a half sister to the triple stakes winner Kaptive Jewel from the prolific Blondie family of the Gr.1 winners Librici, Procol Harum and Cannsea. 
Golden Snake, who returns to Victoria after missing the 2007 season due the EI outbreak, will stand alongside fellow Lynden Park stallion Desert King at Christoph Bruechert's Bombora Downs on the Mornington Peninsula.
  His 2008 fee is $6,600 (including gst) with extended payment terms available on request. And don't forget to ask for the 'first in best dressed' deals on offer until August 1. 

February 3rd, 2008

It was a big day for popular Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell on Saturday when he saddled up a double that included the Group I Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) with his stable star Apache Cat and talented Golden Snake mare, Wayne's Gold took out the Dover Plate (1600m) on the undercard.

Wayne's Gold was ridden by Chris Symons who got the four-year-old chestnut daughter of Golden Snake away well from barrier four to settle behind the early leader Forest Bay, who took the field along at a very strong tempo.  Wayne's Gold took over shortly after rounding the home turn by Symons.  With the rest of the field off the bit chasing hard, Wayne's Gold established a break on her rivals and showed how tough she was to claim her fourth career victory from thirteen starts.

Golden Snake (Danzig – Dubian by High Line) has recently been purchased to stay in Australia.   Formerly shuttling from the English National Stud to Lynden Park Stud; and because of the rotten equine influenza outbreak he was forced to spend the last few months at Windermere Farm at Wilberforce.  

The win of Wayne's Gold will give his Australian based syndicate something to look forward as they welcome him back to Victoria.  

“Golden Snake's progeny are getting better with maturity,” said Lynden's Julie Nairn, “just as he did.”

“They are great types and he has some lovely young ones on the way through.”

“It is a shame,” she added, “that he did not stand this season as he would've covered a very nice book of mares.”  

Golden Snake was an outstanding racehorse, the winner of six of his 15 starts. He won his second start as a two-year-old and from thereon raced exclusively in stakes company.

Four times he was successful at Group One level – taking out the Prix Jean Prat, the Preis Von Europa, the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and the Prix Ganay. He won in four different countries from 1600m to 2400m on all sorts of going – versatile, tough and classy.

Typical of the Danzig line that has fared so well in Australia. Golden Snake is a son of that famed stallion and his dam is just as impressive – the Italian Champion Older Mare Dubian, winner of four races including the Premio Lydia Tesio-Gr.1.

December 24th, 2007

A new winner for Golden Snake (Danzig – Dubian by High Line) recently – the Stony Creek success of the promising lightly raced 4Y0 Ragnarsson coinciding within the news that his sire is in Australia to stay.

Formerly shuttling from the English National Stud to Lynden Park Stud; and due to stand at Bombora Downs after Lynden ceased operations this year – Golden Snake has spent the last few months Windermere Farm at Wilberforce, his home during the EI scare.

With Golden Snake's progeny in good form of late, his Australian based syndicate have been happy to buy out their northern hemisphere partners and they look forward to welcoming him back to Victoria in the new year.

“Golden Snake's progeny are getting better with maturity,” said Lynden's Julie Nairn, “just as he did.”

“They are great types and he has some lovely young ones on the way through.”

“It is a shame,” she added, “that he did not stand this season as he would've covered a very nice book of mares.”

Ragnarsson is the 29th individual winner for Golden Snake who so nearly had a double that day – the talented Perth galloper Gilded Venom beaten just a head when stepping up from 1200m to 1600m at Ascot.

He again stepped out again on Saturday, charging home just a tad too late behind all the way winner Dante's Banquet over 1800m. A promising middle distance type, he has his hoof firmly on the till.

Whilst EI robbed Golden Snake the chance to stand in Victoria this season, it also postponed the re-appearance of the classy Sydney galloper Antidotes. A stakes winning member of the Bart Cummings stable, he has one of the best form lines in the country – to his credit a second to the Melbourne Cup hero Efficient.

But Golden Snake's progeny have been in fine form in Victoria – and overseas; the likes of Lady Snake, Watcha Poison, Snake's Head and Garafena being recent winners whilst Paloma Bella was the first filly home in the Listed Geelong Classic.

Golden Snake was an outstanding racehorse, the winner of six of his 15 starts. He won his second start as a two-year-old and from thereon raced exclusively in stakes company.

Four times he was successful at Group One level – taking out the Prix Jean Prat, the Preis Von Europa, the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and the Prix Ganay. He won in four different countries from 1600m to 2400m on all sorts of going – versatile, tough and classy.

Typical of the Danzig line that has fared so well in Australia. Golden Snake is a son of that famed stallion and his dam is just as impressive – the Italian Champion Older Mare Dubian, winner of four races including the Premio Lydia Tesio-Gr.1.

As a broodmare Dubian excelled, producing six winners including the UK Champion 3Y0 Filly/European Champion Older Mare Sayyedati – dam of the Champagne Stakes-Gr.2 winner Almushahar. This is a family of pacey types who race on – proving their durability and soundness. Not surprising as the family's ancestress is none other than the influential matriarch Lady Josephine.

October 26th, 2007

More black type for Lynden Park's emerging young stallion Golden Snake (Danzig – Dubian by High Line) this week – his promising daughter Paloma Belle a game third in Thursday's Geelong Classic-LR.

The first filly home in the $100,000 2200m event – a prelude to the major three-year-old races at Flemington – Paloma Bella did not have the best of luck in running but she kept fighting.

“She is a game filly,” said managing part owner Robert Roulston who liked the look of Paloma Bella at the 2006 Melbourne Premier sale. “Whilst not overly big she is very competitive and she has plenty of ability.”

“She has a good turn of foot,” he continued, “and the grit and determination to stay well. We were very pleased with her run as she was held up and blocked for a run.”

VRC Oaks-Gr.1 bound, Paloma Bella also has long term aims – the South Australian Oaks next year another prospect for her. “She will have matured into a stronger filly by that time,” said Roulston.

Lynden Park's Julie Nairn has been much taken by the progress of Paloma Bella who was only just beaten in photo finishes at her two previous starts.

“She is a chip off the old block,” she said. “She has the attributes of her sire – the a good turn of foot with the guts and determination that Golden Snake displayed on many an occasion.”

“This filly is going to be something special next year.”

Third behind the regally bred colts Stockade (a $1.2 million Easter graduate) and Husonic ($380,000 Magic Millions), Paloma Bella is Golden Snake's second locally bred black type performer alongside the stakes winner Antidotes.

The sire of 25 winners from a few runners to date, Golden Snake is a stallion whose progeny are expected to improve with maturity – just as he did. Whilst he won at only his second start at two, he just got better and better – winning Gr.1 races at three, four and five.

Other recent winners for Golden Snake include Golden Gabrielle (successful at her last three and around whom most of the recent best country form surrounds), Snake's Head, Watcha Poison, Lady Snake and Casual Affair.

Golden Snake was due to debut at Bombora Downs this season (the historic Lynden Park property currently on the market after the retirement of Jill Ross) but having served his quarantine period at Eastern Creek he has been forced to remain in New South Wales – Windermere Farm at Wilberforce his home for the 2007 spring. 

Fellow Lynden Park stallion Desert King is back in Ireland but will return next year to Victoria. He too earned black type at Wednesday's Geelong meeting, his Melbourne Cup-Gr.1 bound son Desert Master a strong third in the feature Geelong Cup-Gr.3.

June 3rd, 2007

Master trainer Bart Cummings had a great day out at Eagle Farm on Saturday where he trained a stakes double on the Queensland Oaks card.  

Cummings landed the opening race on the black type card the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes with Sirmione two races later he saddled up the Listed Conrad Treasury Brisbane Plate (1400m) with the up-and-coming Antidotes.

A $90,000 purchase as a yearling from the 2005 William Inglis Premier Sale, Antidotes claimed his second career win and his first stakes success with a strong performance in the $100,000 event at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ridden by Steve Arnold, Antidotes, settled mid-field as the 19-horse field stormed down the back straight.  One off the fence with cover, Arnold, angled Antidotes to the outside of the pack at the top of the straight and the three-year-old bay stormed down the outside to score a neck victory over Maslins Beach (Flying Spur - new Acquaintance by Kings Island) with O'Crikey (O'Reilly - Ungarao by Centaine) another length away in third.

Cummings has had plenty of success with the family of Antidotes, who is out of Goldberg (by Geiger Counter), who is in turn out of Cummings trained VRC Oaks winner, Taj Eclipse (by Taj Rossi). 

Julie Nairn, who manages the stud career of Golden Snake, has a high opinion of the son of Danzig, confident that his progeny – like Antidotes – will continue to improve as they mature and he was his sires' first stakes winner in Australia.  After all Golden Snake's own form got better and better winning from two till five – along the way claiming four Group one races. 

Previously a resident of Lynden Park Stud which has closed down with the retirement of Jill Ross earlier this year, Golden Snake has moved to Cristoph Bruchert's Bombora Downs Stud. 

The sire of 17 winners including Austrian champion Cuba Candy, Antidotes has produced the son of the champion mare Dubian with a free advertisement to his affordability as Golden Snake stands this spring for just $8,800.00 (inc gst).

May 16th, 2007

An impressive victory recorded by the lightly raced and promising Wayne's Gold at Sandown on Wednesday - the Greg Eurell trained daughter of Golden Snake racing away.

Taking on the males and jumping from the outside gate, the three-year-old worked across to race on the pace, settling well. Half way up the straight she took the lead before drawing clear to salute by a length-and-a-quarter.

“Away she went,” enthused jockey Chris Symons who has a good opinion of the bay whom he has ridden at six of her eight starts. “She is very tough,” he said.

Wayne's Gold is also highly rated by Greg Eurell and he is looking forward to stepping her up in distance, a 2000m race likely to be her next assignment. 

“It was an emphatic win,” said Eurell, “one which showed her strength against the colts and geldings.”

“She did a really great job,” he added. “With maturity and racing she looks to be shaping up into a highly promising classic filly.” 

A Ballarat maiden winner over 1400m in the spring, Wayne's Gold has really found her feet this time in – her lead up form to Sandown inclusive of a smart Seymour victory and a fast finishing fifth at Caulfield in Saturday company. 

“She has always shown plenty of promise,” enthused Julie Nairn who manages the stud career of Golden Snake – and whose mother Jill Ross is the part owner and breeder of Wayne's Gold.

“And we are now looking forward to her rising through the classes.” 

Meanwhile in Perth Golden Snake's debutant Gilded Venom ran a highly promising fifth beaten just 2.5 lengths. Previously an easy trial winner, he too looks to have a bright future.

Nairn has a high opinion of Golden Snake, confident that his progeny – like Wayne's Gold – will improve as they mature. His own form got better and better, the royally bred son of Danzig winning from two till five – along the way claiming four Gr.1 races. 

Previously a resident of Lynden Park Stud which is closing down – Jill Ross looking forward to a well earned retirement – Golden Snake will now stand at Cristoph Bruchert's Bombora Downs Stud. 

The sire of 17 winners including Austrian champion Cuba Candy, the stakes placed Antidotes and recent victors Adder, Snakey Princess, Snake Charmer and Hydra, Golden Snake is a son of the champion mare Dubian – also dam of the multiple Gr.1 winning filly Sayyedati. 

April 30th, 2007

A four times Gr.1 winner who just kept getting better with age, Golden Snake, will make Bombora Downs at Bittern his new home. He is one of the best bred stallions in Australia - being a son of Danzig and the Champion Gr.1 winner Dubian, also dam of the champion filly Sayyedati.

"Having taken a share in Golden Snake on the strength of his weanlings I'd have to say I consider the opportunity to stand him a coup for Bombora Downs. Watching his youngsters grow out has done nothing to dampen my enthusiasm and their early forays on to the track have been most encouraging” said the stud’s Christoph Bruchert.

"Having stood Jugah for most of his stud career I am a big fan of Northern Dancer blood and as a son of Danzig I can't think of a more fitting replacement for the old boy." 

"Golden Snake is our emerging young sire," Nairn added. "Already proving successful, he is the sire of two Group performers from his first crop in the Northern Hemisphere and in Australia." From only 44 starters, his money earners to runners have a very healthy 87% strike rate. They are shaping up into wonderful classic 3yo’s, just as we expected they would. 

"We are thrilled to be standing Golden Snake at Bombora Downs on the Mornington Peninsula. It is a picturesque property that only after a few seasons in operation is very highly regarded by breeders and trainers alike. It is a well run thoroughbred nursery offering excellent facilities for discerning broodmare owners."

Golden Snake's Fee for 2007 will be $8800 (inc gst ) and for further information contact Julie Nairn 0402901910 or 03 59892543 or email julie@lyndenparkstud.com.au

March 19th, 2007

Friday at Kyneton - Lynden Park Stud's regally bred Golden Snake was represented by an impressive maiden winner at Kyneton.

Saturday in Sydney - Desert War, champion son of Desert King (Danehill - Sabaah by Nureyev) records the fifth Gr.1 victory of his stellar career.

A good two days for Lynden Park, the stud's Julie Nairn excited.

"Golden Snake's progeny are showing a great deal of promise and several stables have high opinions of his youngsters. Desert King meanwhile just
continues to prove himself one of Danehill's finest sons."

Snakey Princess is Golden Snake's newest winner, the member of the Grant Dalziel stable last Friday venturing to the races for only the second time.

Close up at her debut over 1012m, she appreciated the step up to 1212m and she was always travelling well - proving nearly a length too strong for her
rivals which included some highly bred and promising types.

The sire of 14 winners and 14 placegetters from his first 42 runners, Golden Snake is a stallion whose race record of four Gr.1 victories from aged three
suggests that his progeny will get stronger as they mature.

Already he has sired a high class performer in Europe, his son Cuba Candy a Derby winner. His northern hemisphere progeny are proving extremely
consistent - the likes of Adder, Crush On You, Serpentaria, Snake Charmer and Snake Hips in fine form this year.

He also has a number of local progeny showing talent - Antidotes stakes placed whilst Goldelay, Dimmy Simmy, Queimada Grande, Hydra, Golden Papillon and Seymour Snake (placed on the weekend) all have potential.

Wayne's Gold is one of particular note. An impressive winner back in the spring she is being prepared by in form trainer Greg Eurell for autumn
stakes races interstate. So taken by her is he that he has purchased other Golden Snakes.

December 18th, 2006

  December has been a successful month for Lynden Park, its exciting dual hemisphere stallion Golden Snake represented by another winner.

A $77,000 graduate of the Melbourne Premier Sales, Dimmy Simmy is a promising member of the strong David Payne stable and the three-year-old appreciated a step up in distance at Newcastle.

Racing at the miles for the first time, the bay was always travelling well, proving a length too good for his rivals.

  Siring winners in Europe and Australia, Golden Snake has made a terrific start to his stud career. His classy son Cuba Candy is the best of his Classic year in Austria whilst the likes of Ago Snake and Snake Dancer are prolific winners.

  On the local scene Golden Snake has been well represented by the black type performer Antidotes, a talented member of the Bart Cummings team. Winners Queimada Grande, Wayne’s Gold and Goldelay are all horses with excellent ability whilst two-year-old Paloma Bella also looks set for a bright future.

  Golden Snake’s early success is no surprise. He was a winner at two and there is strong juvenile form throughout his pedigree. What is certain however is that his progeny will thrive at three and beyond – Golden Snake improving as he got older.

  A four times Gr.1 winner, Golden Snake raced against the best – competitive with the likes of Galileo, Fantastic Light, Almutawakel, Kalanisi and Montjeu.

Stallions do not come better bred than Golden Snake – a son of the acclaimed sire of sires in Dazing and the wonderful mare Dubian, Italian Champion Older Mare and dam of the super star filly Sayyedati.

The Group 1 Railway Stakes victory by Belle Bizarre was also good news for Lynden Park, that outstanding mare’s dam Baltriomphe recently served by Golden Snake.

August 2nd, 2006

Golden Snake is getting results internationally to match his success in Australia.  His first big-race winner Cuba Candy arrived in the Austrian Derby and is one of seven winners and six placegetters so far produced by the son of Danzig.

Golden Snake’s first Australian bred crop turn three this week and like him (a smart winning juvenile who went on to four Gr.1 victories at three and beyond) they seem likely to improve as they mature. 

Already the Bart Cummings-trained Antidotes has displayed potential, winning in smart style at Canterbury in January and recently trialing well in preparation for a spring campaign which kicks off at Rosehill this Saturday.

Overseas there have been a number of promising recent performances. Two-year-old Big Snake was a winner over six furlongs in Italy earlier this month while Snake Dancer has also been displaying considerable talent, winning Longchamp before a close up fifth in Listed company.

Garafena has been in the placings at each of her four starts to date (second against the colts at her latest Newmarket outing) and Snake’s Head was a game and unlucky debut second at Salisbury.

Prepared by Golden Snake’s trainer John Dunlop, Snake’s Head was reported as making “a big impression.”

Golden Snake has one of the most impressive pedigrees of any stallions at stud in Australia. A son of the proven high-class sire of sires in Danzig, he is out of the Gr.1 winning mare Dubian who is also dam of the champion filly Sayyedati.

July 17th, 2006

Debut crop Group One success for Lynden Park Stud’s, Golden Snake (Danzig – Dubian by High Line), with his outstanding son Cuba Candy in the news as the runaway winner of Austrian Derby.

Last season’s Champion Austrian Two-Year-Old, Cuba Candy is also the winner of the Austrian 2000 Guineas and he looks set to claim the crown of Champion Three-Year-Old.

Also in winning form is the consistent Big Snake who, after filling a placing at each of her first four starts, broke through in impressive style in Italy on July 12.

Big Snake is the seventh individual winner for Golden Snake who has made a terrific start to his stud career in the northern hemisphere. To date he has been represented by 17 runners – seven winners and six lightly raced placegetters.

Also showing promise have been the likes of Ago Snake (four wins from ten starts), Snake Dancer (recent winner at Longchamp prior to an encouraging Listed fifth) and Garafena (honest filly second against the colts at Newmarket this week, close to a win).

Meanwhile in Australia the smart juvenile Antidotes is considered a leading spring prospect (the Spring Champion Stakes-Gr.1 and VRC Derby-Gr.1 two of his aims) by the Bart Cummings stable – the Canterbury winner shaping well at recent trials.

Described by bloodstock expert Tony Morris as “one of the best bred horses at stud anywhere in the world” and by local agent Robert Roulston as a horse with “a top class pedigree and racecourse performance to match,” Golden Snake was an outstanding galloper who won no less than four times at Group One level.

A winner at two from five, Golden Snake is a son of Danzig and the Gr.1 winning mare Dubian – also dam of the champion filly Sayyedati who showed high class form at two and three. This is the prolific family that descends from the famed matriarch Lady Juror.

At $8,800 (including gst), Golden Snake is great value.

June 6th, 2006

Lynden Park Stud’s Golden Snake recorded another win France during the week when his daughter Snake Dancer won at Longchamp.

The filly who has shown improvement at each outing since her debut in early March, Snake Dancer was successful over 2000m.

Well known yearling judge George Smith had said that he felt Golden Snake's progeny would get better with maturity.

“His youngsters are full of quality and have the conformation and scope to perform as juveniles and excel in their Classic year,” he predicted.

May 16th, 2006

Lynden Park Stud's resident sire, Golden Snake, has passed a significant milestone having produced his first Group winner.  The horse to register the stallion's breakthrough was Cuba Candy, who was previously a listed winner in Germany.

He has now taken out the G2 Kriterium der Dreijährigen to maintain an unbeaten record which he will attempt to extend in the Austrian Derby.  Cuba Candy is one of Golden Snake's six individual winners from 13 runners so far in the northern hemisphere, only two of which have failed to fill a place.

In Australia, where Golden Snake's oldest progeny are just two, there has been instant success in the shape of the classy Bart Cummings trained Antidotes.  An impressive on pace winner at Canterbury in January, he is highly regarded by the stable who consider him a major spring Derby contender.
"We have been very impressed with this colt who has excelled from the outset," said Cummings.
"And he will be even better as a three-year-old."
Lynden Park's Julie Nairn said the stud was thrilled with Golden Snake's success.
"Golden Snake's progeny are very athletic, free moving youngsters who are correct in conformation and who have excellent temperaments," she said.
"We are thrilled with the success he is having," she continued.
Golden Snake, the best performed son of Danzig in Victoria, was a smart  two-year-old winner before going winning four times at the highest level.

Retiring as the winner of six of his 15 starts, he won the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, the G1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp, G1 Europa Preis at Cologne and the G1 Grand Prix del Jockey Club in Milan.

Golden Snake represents a sire line that has excelled in this part of the world and his family and one which has also made its mark in Australasia via the deeds of Eight Carat. Among the mares he has attracted are two half sisters to the tough Australian Guineas winner Apache Cat and a half sister to the brilliant Blue Diamond Stakes winner Nadeem.

April 23rd, 2006

Lynden Park Stud’s regally bred Golden Snake has been enjoying a good run in the Northern Hemisphere where he was recently represented by his first stakes winner. 

Bound for the Austrian Derby, Golden Snake’s first crop three-year-old son Cuba Candy won the Listed Kriterium der Dreijahrigen and he improved on his sire’s already impressive early record.

To date Golden Snake has had 12 runners – six of whom have won with a further four finishing in the placings from limited starts.

The Italian based Ago Snake is typical of the breed – tough and consistent. To date he has raced ten times, winning four races. Meanwhile on the local scene Antidotes has shown plenty of natural ability.

A member of the Bart Cummings stable, Antidotes was sent out an odds on favourite at Canterbury in January and he was an impressive on pace winner after a debut second to the subsequent Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 placegetter Wonderful World.

Highly regarded by the stable who labelled him as a horse with “a future,” Antidotes – a major spring Derby contender – caught the eye from the time he fetched $90,000 at the Melbourne Premier yearling sales.

“We have been very impressed with this colt who has excelled from the outset,” said Cummings… “and he will be even better as a three-year-old.”

Boasting a pedigree full of precocious speed, Golden Snake was a winner from only two starts at two – at that age described by connections as a horse with “a lot of speed.”

He got better with age however, at three winning his first Group One race and retiring as a five-year-old as the winner of six of his 15 starts – in total four at Group One level.

Which suggests that the best is yet to come for Golden Snake, a horse who earned the title of French Champion Middle Distance Galloper.

A son of the influential Northern Dancer stallion Danzig, Golden Snake is out of the champion mare Dubian, also dam of the outstanding Sayyedati – UK Champion 3Y0 Filly and European Champion Older Mare.

Dubian is the daughter of another Group winner in Melodina, a half sister to the Irish Oaks heroine Celina. This is the prolific family that descends from the famed matriarch Lady Juror.

Such is the strength of Golden Snake’s appeal that he was supported by a solid book of 80 mares last year – including two half sisters to the tough Australian Guineas winner Apache Cat and a half sister to the brilliant Blue Diamond Stakes winner Nadeem.

Other members of Golden Snake’s harem include sisters to the stakes winners Mr Prudent, Zamination, Another Neptune, Say Magic, Miss Hellterskelter, Jiver, Charmview, Hierogram, My Sienna, Benbara King, Kaptive Jewel, Seraphic, Prince Benbara, Classic Benbara, Durham Rivers, Extra Sharp and Isolated Duke. 

There are also daughters of Zabeel, Century, Palace Music, Woodman, Kenmare, Sir Dapper, Dehere, Commands, Red Anchor, Salieri, Rubiton, Desert King, Rustic Amber, Grosvenor, Jugah, Rancho Ruler, At Talaq and Godswalk and the dams of the stakes winners Rain Dance Lady and Jiver.

Daughters of the stakes winners Rom’s Stiletto, Farfalla, It’s Candide, Torquay and Exalting made up Golden Snake’s book along with the metropolitan winners Dalchase, Kalissa, Lismore, Mad Moment, Miss Ali-Royal, Sea Zephyr, Tiger Belle and Viva la Fun. 

Golden Snake is not the only Lynden Park stallion on a roll of late – Danehill’s multiple Group One winning son Desert King in the headlines.

January 8th, 2006

Golden Snake produced his his first Australian winner at Canterbury on Thursday, January 5th, evening. 

Having only his second start, the promising Bart Cummings trained two-year-old started a hot 2/5 favourite after a game debut second to stablemate Wonderful World on December 22.

On that occasion thwarted by an awkward barrier draw, Antidotes had more luck this time although he did not enjoy the easiest of runs sitting outside of the pacemaker Attest To Me.  100m out and the race was his however, the handsome bay digging deep for Glen Boss who had always been confident – “he is still very green,” he said, “but was never going to get beaten.”

“He has still got a lot to learn,” agreed Cummings, “and he will continue to improve.”

Antidotes was a $90,000 Melbourne Premier graduate, and is Golden Snake’s second Australian runner – the Inglis Classic bound Queimada Grande an encouraging recent debut fourth.