Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip building towards racing return
Mark Zahra has a soft spot for Gold Trip, the horse that provided the jockey with the first of his back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories.
Zahra answered a call from trainer Ciaron Maher to give Gold Trip a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday as part of the entire’s build-up to a racetrack return.
Gold Trip has not raced since finishing 17th when pulling up lame in last year’s Melbourne Cup, a race won by Zahra on the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight.
Zahra does not expect Gold Trip to be ready for a return to racing until next month, with Maher intending to start the seven-year-old in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 30.
“He feels good,” Zahra said.
“He was a bit lazy, like he always is.His stablemate (Cadre Du Noir) kicked for home on the bend, and I was going to have to do too much to join him, so I just let him have a nice cruisy gallop.
“I always find early in his prep, he’s pretty laid back, but as the prep goes on, he becomes more interested and hopefully that’s the case again.”
“They usually throw the blinkers on him at trackwork, they just let him have a cruise around.”
Zahra remains confident Gold Trip can return to his best form.
Gold Trip has been plagued by feet issues throughout his time in Australia, but Zahra said the entire’s feet were in good order when he took to the track on Tuesday.
“I think the main thing with him is his feet and they seemed to look good, and his action seems fine,” Zahra said.
“Every prep seems to get harder as they get older, but I think he is going to be alright.
“Hopefully we get a bit of rain. He’ll probably end up in Sydney and if they get any rain up there, he’ll be right in the mix.”
Zahra said he was unsure what program Maher had set Gold Trip but wouldn’t be surprised if he kicks off next month.
“I think he usually has three trials,” Zahra said.
“He’s had one, so he’s probably a couple away (before starting) and then next he’ll be ready to go into something like the Australian Cup, I guess.”
More Racing News
Concord Connie eyes Victorian Group 1 success
Charlotte Littlefield, the Pakenham-based trainer, is opting against chasing substantial prize money in interstate races with Concord Connie, focusing instead on securing a Group 1 win within Victoria.The exciting mare, Concord Connie, has undergone four weeks of preparation and is being readied for her return, with the Group 1 Empire...
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...
General Salute set for Winter Challenge under favourable wet conditions
The arrival of overnight rain has alleviated Sterling Alexiou's primary concern regarding General Salute's prospects in the final black-type race of the Sydney season, following his recent victory in the Winter Stakes.All four of the gelding's previous wins have been recorded on rain-affected tracks. Earlier in the week, with Rosehill...
Burning Heartz set for Adelaide Stakes test
Trainer Gavin Bedggood envisions a future for Burning Heartz in an Oaks race, but his immediate goal is to secure some valuable Stakes black type for the filly.Burning Heartz, a winner on debut at Sandown on July 1, is now heading to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 South Australian...