Gold Bullion wins Derby Preview at Flemington
Being trained at Flemington and having performed well in the Penfolds Derby Preview are both positives in the eyes of Gai Waterhouse as Gold Bullion won the lead-up contest with stablemate Ambassadorial finishing third.
Gai Waterhouse first her won the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 1995 with Nothin’ Leica Dane and 28 years later she, along with co-trainer Adrian Bott, are in contention with a pair of horses now firmly setting course for the Flemington classic on November 4.
Ambassadorial ($8.50) led for most of the 1800-metres with Gold Bullion ($6.50), ridden by Blake Shinn, staying the distance to win in the last furlong.
“I knew that Gold Bullion would be very tough at the end and all he can do is stay,” Waterhouse said.
“Ambassadorial is as honest as the day is long.
“They are trained here and they have shown that they can run 1800, now we’ll just have to stretch them like a piece of chewing gum (to reach 2500-metres).”
Gold Bullion delivered Blake Shinn a third winner for the day and he believes that the 2500-metres of the Derby is not out of the question for the gelding by New Zealand sire Savabeel.
He thought the late scratchings at the barrier of three runners played into their hands for the result.
“He’s got a fair bit of upside and potential,” Shinn said.
“The scratchings changed the dynamic of the race but he was strong when it counted and he’s on a Derby path and hopefully he can go on with it.
“When this horse came to Melbourne he was a bit playful and he’s still a bit coltish.
“He’s got more to offer (but) it is hard to know where the ceiling is.”
Gold Bullion won by a long-neck margin over the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sunsets ($19) with Ambassadorial a length away in third.
Gold Bullion is rated an $11 chance in pre-nominations Derby markets with Ambassadorial at $15.
More Racing News
Gold Coast trial to sharpen Magic Time for the Kingsford Smith Cup
Michael Dee is heading to the Gold Coast to trial multiple Group 1 winning mare Magic Time ahead of her first run in Brisbane. The Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 1 is the race trainer Grahame Begg has picked out to run Magic Time in first-up in Brisbane,...
Kovalica to relish G1 Doomben Cup trip
The anniversary of Kovalica’s biggest success comes up in the next week and Chris Waller is hoping to celebrate the milestone with another Brisbane Group 1 win. The four-year-old son of Ocean Park will chase his first win since last year’s Queensland Derby when he steps out in this Saturday’s $1 million...
Shinn to make Sydney trip for Think About It trial
Blake Shinn will make the trip to Sydney to partner Think About It in a barrier trial as he prepares for his first race ride on the Everest winner. Sam Clipperton has been the gelding’s regular jockey over the past 15 months, but connections decided to make a change following a disappointing Sydney autumn...
Opal Ridge signals Queensland carnival intentions in Ortensia Stakes
A relieved Luke Pepper will press on to the Queensland winter carnival with renewed confidence after an underdone Opal Ridge maintained her perfect home track record with a classy victory in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone. Pepper admitted to some pre-race anxiety given Opal Ridge hadn’t raced since November, but he banked on...
Bella Nipotina beats I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000
Ciaron Maher has been left to marvel at the tenacity of bonny mare Bella Nipotina, who has overcome a busy travel schedule to upset I Wish I Win in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000. Kicking off her preparation in Melbourne, Bella Nipotina was narrowly edged out by Chain Of Lightning in the T J...
Lloyd keeps his cool as Cindy collects Dark Jewel Classic
A composed ride from Zac Lloyd has helped Fall For Cindy post an invaluable Group Three win, the star apprentice keeping his cool despite having to throw the script out the window shortly after the start. Lloyd had hoped to settle the John O’Shea-trained mare in the first half of the field and...
Draw favours Who Dares in The Straight Six
Who Dares has finally lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him winning a Stakes race at Flemington. The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday fell the way of the heavily supported gelding, prepared at Mornington by Pat Carey and Harris Walker. Sent out the $3.30 favourite under Patrick Moloney, Who Dares scored...
The Map lands a Melbourne Cup berth
Six months of planning has paid off with The Map earning a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup. The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday grants the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray planned their assault on Saturday’s...
Bool battler chasing a Melbourne Cup dream
The self-proclaimed little bogan from the Bool with the bargain battler $5000 horse is chasing the dream of a Melbourne Cup start at Flemington. Patrick Ryan Jnr and his stayer Ferago head to the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in search of a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington...
Shall Samuel and Twain meet in the Melbourne Cup?
To breed one Melbourne Cup runner is an achievement, but to have two in the same race from the one family is something not many can boast. But that’s the dream Gail Temperton and Stan Alexander are hoping to realise this year and Samuel Langhorne can take a giant step towards making...