Singapore Turf Club Local News

Goldschatz takes first Group race on Polytrack

Craig Brennan
Friday, December 04, 2009

A winning double for Stephen Gray was completed when Goldschatz took the first Group race on the Polytrack on Friday night.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Goldschatz overcame adversity before scoring in the Group 3 $175,000 Proinn Construct Stakes over 1700m.

After striking a blocked run on turning for home, Goldschatz was able to pick himself up before scoring by a length over Bumble Bee (Joao Moreira) with London Express (Mark Gallagher) three-and-a-quarter lengths away third.

Goldschatz (Vlad Duric) gets the better of Bumble Bee to take the first Group
race on the Polytrack.

Gray had been successful in the previous race, the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1100m with Diplomatic Strike.

Goldschatz made it back-to-back victories having previously been successful over 1600m on the turf back on November 13.

The New Zealand-bred six-year-old was given a great run by Duric, but when he went to push out on the hometurn, Moreira came up on his outside, shutting the door.

Just when it looked like Bumble Bee would give Moreira his fifth winner for the night, Duric was able to get Goldschatz rebalanced and set sail after the favourite, comfortably wearing him down and racing clear for a commanding win.

Duric has just returned to race riding following a suspension and said he was glad to get his early rides out of the way.

“When you have a bit of a break it takes of couple of rides to get your eye back in,” said Duric.

“I was blowing pretty hard early on, but I’m right now and hopefully this will get the momentum back in full swing.”

Duric had been riding in Melbourne during the Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival and had to waste hard to ride Given Vision in the Singapore Gold Cup early last month, which eventually took its toll on the rider.

“It knocked me around having to waste, but a break and a freshen up have got me back on track.”

Gray said he would have been a “grumpy trainer” had Goldschatz been beaten.

“If he didn’t win he would have been unlucky,” said Gray. “But I would have been a grumpy trainer and no doubt there would have been a grumpy jockey as well.

The winning team show off their trophies.

“I was urging Vlad to get off the fence, but when he did the gap had closed. Luckily he got up and won the race.”

Goldschatz is owned by German-born Stephan Herzog, a regional manager for cosmetic brand Estee Lauder, but who has left Singapore for a Dubai posting.

“Stephan and his kids still keep in touch with us,” said Gray. “He used to bring the kids around on a Sunday to see the horse.

“I’ve been in contact with him and he’s delighted with the win.”

With not a lot left on the radar for the year, Gray said he would consider sending Goldschatz up to Malaysia to contest the Penang Gold Cup over 2200m on December 27.

“He stays pretty well and I think he will run the 2200m without any problem,” said Gray. “It is something I’ll give serious consideration.”

Goldschatz, a six-year-old by Pins from the Centaine mare Centri Belle, landed his fifth win from 26 starts and took his prize money to around the $330,000 mark.

Copyright 2009 Singapore Turf Club