New Zealand-based syndicator Go Racing are looking forward to a bumper day of racing on Saturday, where they will be represented in feature races on both sides of the Tasman.
On Champions Day at Ellerslie, they have a leading prospect in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) courtesy of the Chris Waller-trained Tajanis, who has been in a purple patch of form in Sydney.
The five-year-old son of Australia has won his last two outings, including the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm, which booked his ticket across the Tasman.
Purchased by Go Racing out of Tattersalls 2023 Horses in Training Sale for 40,000 guineas, Tajanis is looming to be a leading light for Go Racing in the autumn, with a tilt at the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on the cards if he handles the two-mile marathon this weekend.
“It took him a while to get accustomed to racing in Australia, but once he did and his confidence got up, he has gone to another level and has improved with every start,” Go Racing General Manager Matt Allnutt said.
“He is going into Saturday off the back of a good win, he has travelled over well, he galloped nicely on Tuesday morning, he has a good jockey (Michael McNab) and a good draw (3), everything looks to be in order. We just need him to run out the two miles now.
“Before his last start we had the Auckland Cup in-mind and then he came out and won quite impressively, so we pushed the button on the plan to bring him over. If he does see out the distance and goes a really nice race, it certainly opens options up for us back in Australia.”
Go Racing has continued to expand their business into buying tried horses in the northern hemisphere and race them down under, and Allnutt said his connections are having the time of their life racing the gelding.
“A big part of the business now is buying up in the UK and bringing them down,” he said.
“It is really exciting to see it pay off, and having a horse run in the Auckland Cup is certainly exciting. There will be a heap of owners on course, and we will have a great day regardless.”
Tajanis heads the market for the Auckland Cup on $3.40, with the Lance Noble-trained About Time on the second line of betting at $5.50.
While looking forward to the Auckland Cup, Go Racing will also have plenty to cheer for in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), with the Stephen Marsh-trained Penman running in the slot of Barneswood Brady Nakhle.
The son of Contributer heads into the feature in outstanding form, winning his last three outings, and is rated a $23 chance on Saturday, with Australian raiders Evaporate, Public Attention and Perfumist leading the market at $2.60, $5.50 and $8 respectively.
“He is in super form,” Allnutt said.
“He has been racing really well, and he has gone to another level in his last three starts. I thought his last run at Ellerslie was super, he probably had no right to win that given he couldn’t get out until about the 100m mark.
“We are looking forward to the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi and it is a real honour to have a runner in it.”
Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Go Racing’s Group 1 darling Atishu will be vying to add another elite-level victory to her tally when she heads to Flemington to contest the A$2.5 million All-Star Mile (1600m).
“She has come back well,” Allnutt said.
“It has been well publicised that we decided not to sell her last season. Subsequently she went on to place in Group Ones and won a Group One (Empire Rose, 1600m), so the decision certainly paid off.
“The small field (seven runners) is a bit of a worry regarding what the tempo is going to be like in the race, but if she can get a drag into it, and if they go at a decent gallop, I think the mile will suit.
“She loves Flemington, she races well there, she seems to find another couple of lengths when she is racing there.
“There are a group of owners going over to watch her, they are booked in for her the next three starts, so they are pretty pumped, and we are too.”
Go Racing’s silks will also be carried at Flemington by Etna Rosso in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m).
“He’s had a couple of starts this time in and he is building nicely,” Allnutt said.
“He is getting out to a distance that suits. He performed really well last campaign, he won the Newcastle Cup (Group 3, 2300m) and we were right in the nominations for the Melbourne Cup (Group 1, 3200m) until he just came to the end of his preparation. He is another nice chance on Saturday.”
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