The Winning Continues - Golden Age Shines

Following a red-letter day at Taupo, Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards began where he left off when Golden Age (4 g Savabeel - La Belle Epoque, by Montjeu) bolted home in the $10,000 Group One Raceday Party Maiden 1600 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Four winners a day earlier took his tally to 12 and the good form continued with an up-and-coming staying prospect.

Given a beautiful trip three back on the inner by Michael McNab, Golden Age was doing handstands before taking control at the 200 metres and he raced away to win by three lengths easing down. 

On footing rated Dead4, Golden Age ran the 1600 metres in 1:38.0 and the best backed horse on the day returned $2.50 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB. 

“He's got good ability but it's just taken him a while to put it all together,” McNab said. “The track is in good order. It's got a nice bit of jar out of it and they've done a good job considering the racing and weather they've had. 

“He was first-up at the mile today, so it was a really good training effort and further is going to be better as well.”

Owned by the Te Akau Golden Age Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. An offering of two-year-olds which has given rise to triple Group One winner Gingernuts (Iffraaj), Group One winner Hall of Fame (Savabeel), Group winning excitement machine Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), Derby runner-up Mongolianconqueror (Ocean Park), Group Three winner Royal Success (Savabeel), and recent stakes placed winners Shezathinka (So You Think) and Luminous (Reliable Man), all bought by Ellis. 

“That was Jamie's seventh winner since Wednesday, which is quite extraordinary, and you only get those results with top staff and jockeys,” Ellis said. “It was a peach of a ride by Michael McNab and he's riding really well. He's in a good head space and trying so hard. He's been riding work six days a week, going to the gym, very fit and focussed, and it's nice to see him getting the rewards.

“It's great for all the staff at the stables and the farm that have worked so hard through the winter and everyone is enjoying that effort being transferred into wins, so well done to them.

“This horse has a terrific pedigree and was one of the most impressive horses I'd seen at the Ready to Run Sales for a few years when we bought him. Jamie has always rated him highly and he was unlucky not to win during his first campaign. He's been a little bit slow maturing, but the way he won today he should be in for a good year.

“The dam sire of this horse, Montjeu, had a lot of success when standing at stud in New Zealand, and winning the Irish Derby, French Derby, and Arc de Triomphe, made him one the highest quality horses in the world that you'd ever wish to see.

“A lot of our really loyal owners are in this horse and I'm thrilled for them that he's notched the win and looks on the way to bigger things.”

“He wasn't far behind them last year and he's a wee bit stronger now,” said stable foreman Paul Richards, deputising for son Jamie. “He's quite a big, long, horse and time has helped him. A mile and quarter won't be hard for him and even a mile and a half and we think he's got the potential to develop into a nice staying horse.”

Golden Age was strapped by Diego Montes de Oca.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back