The $100,000 TAB 2000 was tailor-made for a horse like Heart Of Gold(NZ)(Niagara), and the Sam Mynott-trained gelding simply dominated the feature at Cambridge Synthetic on Thursday.
There are few horses around the country with a synthetic record like Heart Of Gold, with each of his six race victories coming at the Cambridge venue, initially for Darryn and Briar Weatherley before moving to Mynott’s stable over the summer period.
Mynott earmarked the innovation race early in his current preparation and his sterling form on the surface continued in the lead-up, with a win and a close-up third behind race-rival Zappa Jak a fortnight ago placing him a $5.60 hope, with Rocket Lad on top at $3.70.
In the hands of Sam Spratt, Heart Of Gold settled into the box-seat third behind top-weight Opawa Jack, who set a solid tempo down the back straight. The majority of the 12-horse field were off the bridle nearing the home turn, but Heart Of Gold was travelling up strongly under Spratt and soon kicked away, with the margin only extending as he bolted in by 4-¼ lengths.
Ultimate Focus was game running into second, while Central Districts visitors Zappa Jak and Opawa Jack stuck on well to fill the first four.
Mynott was thrilled to pick up the major spoils in a concept well-suited to the son of Niagara.
“It was brilliant, we’ve been setting him for this race for the last couple of months and I was pretty happy with him coming into today,” she said.
“We thought we had him pretty spot on and he’s broken the track record, so he’s definitely run well.
“I think it’s an amazing incentive by Entain to put these races on, when otherwise would you get to race for $100,000 at Cambridge? There are horses that would never get a chance to run for that kind of stake, but here we are today and it’s great.”
Although he is yet to salute on turf, Mynott has faith that Heart Of Gold can continue his synthetic form into the summer time with potential Group targets in mind.
“He’s going to the paddock for a month now, that was always the plan,” she said.
“I know he’s probably labelled as a poly horse, but on a good track on the turf I think he will be pretty competitive this season.
“We’ll probably get him back in and hopefully target a race like the Waikato Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) or something like that.”
Heart Of Gold races in the colours of his owner-breeder Pam Brindley and her late husband Geoff, who have supported Mynott for a long period of time.
“I had this horse as a yearling for Pam, I’ve had a few horses for her and she’s such a lovely person,” Mynott said.
“She asked me if I could take him and give him a go and we do different things with him, he hardly ever gallops at the track. He goes for farm hacks, he goes around the hurdles and that just keeps him a really happy horse, he thrives off that type of lifestyle.
“It’s awesome to get this for her, she loves her horses and if I ever say that I think one needs a break or whatever it will be, she trusts me to make that call.
“She’s been a very loyal supporter of racing and on the poly track as well, so she really deserves this.”
The seven-year-old was the fourth foal out of Brindley’s unraced Volksraad mare Champagne Lady, who also produced Listed performer Align With Me.
