Date posted January 3, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Hussonet,
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Racing and BreedingMelbourne, Vic (January 3rd, 2010) - Gold Trail claimed a career highlight win and gave his sale bound full sister a tremendous boost when he won the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Friday (Jan 1st).
Showing his usual speed out in front, Gold Trail skipped clear in the straight and then under the urging of Michael Rodd was able to hold out top local sprinter Atapi (Last Tycoon - Pride of Ingenue by Proud Knight).
A $75,000 graduate from Furlong Stud purchased out of the Magic Millions sale ring, Gold Trail was sent out one of the popular elects.
Gold Trail adds Group One glory to his 'cv' (pic sportpix)
Winning trainer Gary Portelli was thrilled with the win and said the gelding was on track for his ultimate goal - the $1 million Group One Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in three weeks time.
“We just had a perfect preparation,” Portelli told Radio 927. “He travelled to New Zealand really well and the horse was right.”
By Arrowfield Studs Hussonet, Gold Trial had just enough in the tank to hold off 8YO Atapi, a $20,000 purchase from the 2003 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
“It’s always a trouble at 1200 metres for him. So I was just glad it wasn’t another stride,” Portelli said.
The gelding did a great job to hold out Atapi considering he hadn’t race since winning the Group Two Shorts Hcp in Sydney on a heavy track on October 3.
Since then he was trialled three times, winning each one, in preparation to his trip across the Tasman.
Portelli knew his charge would lead and he just hoped his fitness would get him to the line first over a tough 1200 metres.
“There’s not too many horses who can go with the fellow when we want to go forward in shorter races and I thought over 1200 we would lead easily.”
“He just rode him a treat,” Portelli said of the ride from Rodd.
“He let him roll and that’s what he’s got to do. You’ve got to let him breath. He looked after him for a few strides in the straight and then he gapped them.”
“Just thank god he hung on for the boys. It’s a great bunch of owners. The Mortons have had a lot of luck with their horses over the years.”
A run in the Group One event was not originally on the agenda for Gold Trail, but connections elected to run him in the Railway as a lead up to his ultimate mission in three weeks time.
“Realistically we’d only aimed at the million dollar race (Trentham Handicap) so that’s where we’ll go now.”
The win continued a great start to 2010 for Queensland based thoroughbred operation Furlong Stud.
Earlier at the Gold Coast their promising graduate Wandering Star (Star Cross (ARG) ex Winning Walk by Naturalism) staked her claim for a $100,000 race on Magic Millions raceday with a two length win at her second start.
In few days time Furlong will offer a full sister to Gold Trail at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast and by all reports the filly will turn heads.
“She’s absolutely beautiful,” Furlong Stud’s Jim Atkinson reported from the Gold Coast.
“She’s a breathtaking looking filly and she’s now a full sister to a Group One winner - she has a lot going for her.”
Furlong Stud have a great record of producing quality gallopers and a filly they sold last year, Paprika (General Nediym), beat all but Phelan Ready in last year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“We’re a boutique operation and he only have about 14 or so foals a year.”
“And our record in recent years has been very good with horses like Mitanni, Paprika and now Gold Trail.”
Hussonet has 30 yearlings listed for sale at the Magic Millions sale next week on the Gold Coast (Jan 6 - 10th). At the William Inglis Classic sale later that month he has three yearlings on offer at Newmarket in Sydney (January 24-25th). A lone filly by him has been catalogued for sale in Western Australia at the Magic Millions sale (January 27th - 31st). The son of Mr. Prospector has a lone yearling catalogued for sale in New Zealand at Karaka (Feb 1st-2nd) and at the Oaklands Junction complex in Victoria at the William Inglis Premier sale Hussonet has 19 yearlings listed for sale (March 1st - 4th).
