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
Adelaide hosts Niance's campaign launch
Grahame Begg, the trainer, is travelling to Adelaide featuring his capable mare Niance, potentially opening doors to a Brisbane-focused campaign for the quick runner.Since Flemington lacks fitting sprint races for Niance on Saturday, Begg chooses the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) held at Morphettville.By chance, Flemington's Anzac Day schedule...
Cap Ferrat set for reunion with Williams in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The top jockey Craig Williams seeks to conclude a demanding weekend on a high note with a Group 1 win in Hong Kong, reuniting with 2025 Hong Kong Derby champion Cap Ferrat in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin come April 26.On Saturday, Williams boasts almost a...
Recon hands Carey elusive Hareeba Stakes success
Pat Carey, the hometown conditioner, has banished his Hareeba Stakes hoodoo after Recon unleashed a dazzling closing effort to take out the prize at Mornington.Carey had endured ongoing frustration in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m), pursuing a victory across several campaigns, notably second with Kelthorpe in 2006 and third via...
All Aged Stakes delivers Beiwacht's second elite victory
Hall of Fame conditioner Chris Waller's unbeaten autumn dominance in Sydney received a fitting finale from Godolphin's Beiwacht, who powered to a determined lead-all-the-way success versus a elite opposition in the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.In addition, Waller filled the first two...
Mornington Cup win gives Kings Valley direct entry to Caulfield Cup
Kings Valley, under the guidance of trainer Ciaron Maher, has clinched a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup courtesy of a gritty performance at Mornington.The Listed Mornington Cup conquest on Saturday delivers the 'Golden Ticket' access to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October.Maher notched his second Mornington...
Pride stable trifecta topped by Mazu in Hall Mark Stakes
At eight years old, the exceptional Mazu maintains his sharp turn of foot and zest for competition, setting the tempo wire-to-wire for his third consecutive triumph in Saturday's Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).Previously, Pride's star had mastered the Hall Mark on rain-affected surfaces where he excels, but facing...
Waller's record Sydney autumn run ends with Fireball edging Champagne Stakes
Chris Waller, the celebrated Hall of Fame trainer, notched a historic Sydney Saturday Group 1 sweep as Fireball got the better of stable companion Campione D'Italia in Saturday's $1 million Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.The autumn carnival's eighth straight (and last) Sydney Saturday of Group 1 races saw Waller...
JRA Plate victory confirms Asterix at his sharpest
The win by Asterix stood out as somewhat surprising compared to Waller's earlier triumphs, given the progressive eight-year-old gelding was dispatched at $16 into the race.Having captured the New Zealand Derby four years back, Asterix lost momentum for a period before flashing his class last summer with a win in...
Strong Frank Packer Plate win boosts Matias for Queensland Derby
With a powerful victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), Matias has positioned himself firmly in the Queensland Derby picture.Stablemate Snitzel Dancer had triumphed in the Group 3 Carr Stakes only 35 minutes beforehand.Snitzel, under Ryan's guidance, took out an Oakleigh Plate before retiring to Arrowfield Stud,...
Snitzel Dancer's stakes win opens door to Queensland Oaks campaign
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's belief in Snitzel Dancer was rewarded as the filly claimed her first stakes victory in the Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).The trainer was puzzled by the filly's efforts in back-to-back Warwick Farm appearances that launched her season.Yet, her dominant Hawkesbury performance...