Golden Pulse Debut Perfect

Like half-sister and reigning Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth), Golden Pulse (2 g Tivaci – Gold Fever, by Savabeel) became a debut winner in the A$42,500 Johns Lyng Group Maiden 2YO 1147 metres on 4 December at Geelong (Victoria).

After finishing second when racing handily in a jump out on 17 November at Cranbourne, Golden Pulse extended a terrific family tradition of winning first-up as a two-year-old.

His dam Gold Fever made a perfect start to her racing career with a dominant three and a half length win and became a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old and Horse of the Year following her victory in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and placing in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), while La Dorada displayed a toughness and resolve that stood by her throughout last season when achieving victories in the Karaka Millions 2YO and Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, culminating in the ultimate juvenile victory in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m. 

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased both Gold Fever and La Dorada as yearlings, each being products of Waikato Stud, with Gold Fever picked up for A$110,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and La Dorada for $190,000 at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Golden Pulse was offered for sale by Waikato Stud at the 2025 Inglis Classic Sale, a A$160,000 purchase by Yulong, for whom trainer Mark Walker recently won with the first foal out of Melody Belle (Commands), named Lyrics ‘N’ Song, after Mr Zhang purchased the Te Akau trained dual Horse of the Year at the completion of her racing career for $2.6 million.

Ridden by Beau Mertens, Golden Pulse was the least favoured starter of the field - he sat off the two leaders in third, travelled up nicely on their heels turning for home, and finished stoutly to claim the lead and win going away to score comfortably by two lengths.

On Good4 footing he ran the 1147 metres in 1:07.3 and paid $7.00 & $1.10 fixed odds on the NZ TAB.

“It was really good to see him win first-up for Mr Zhang and the team at Yulong, who are kindly supporting us with some nice horses,” Walker said.

“He’s tested us at times with his coltish tendencies, but after today’s performance he’s bought himself some time to remain as a colt. 

“He’s been well educated at the stable, was nice and tractable for the jockey and Beau (Mertens) gave him a perfect ride.

“He’s ended up winning with a bit of authority and being a half-brother to La Dorada, from a family we know so well at Te Akau, it’s a special thrill.

“It’s a great Waikato Stud family and I can see him going on to win more races.”

The sire of Golden Pulse, Tivaci, by world-class racehorse and hugely successful sire of sires High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), won the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, and commenced stud duties in 2017 at Waikato Stud. 

In a brief career, the colt's dam Gold Fever won three of her six starts, while finishing third in the others and being by nine-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), she was always going to receive the best possible chance of making it as a broodmare.

His grand-dam Gold Rocks (Oratorio) not only produced Gold Fever to win the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but also her half-sister Gold Rush (So You Think), and with La Dorada franking the form last year she continued an incredible family tradition while becoming the 10th winner of the race for Te Akau. 

Golden Pulse carries a cross of breed shaping sire Sir Tristram, a son of 1968 Group 1 Epsom Derby (2400m) winner Sir Ivor (Sir Gaylord), on the dam line of Tivaci and sire line of Gold Fever.  

Golden Pulse was strapped by Wyatt Jenkins. 

Photo - Gold Pulse as a yearling at the sale