Mudgee’s Gooree Pastoral Company is looking forward to the big 2008 spring racing carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne despite the retirement of their grand old campaigner Desert War earlier this year.
“He was always going to be a hard horse to replace but we have some exciting new prospects with Gai Waterhouse and John Hawkes,” Gooree’s Thoroughbred Manager Andrew Baddock said yesterday.
“At Rosehill on August 17 our Spring prospects received a big boost when late comer Ashikaga showed that his two provincial wins were no fluke when he beat a handy Saturday field.
“Gai was quick to announce after that win, his third from just three starts, that he will head to the Group One Epsom Handicap.
“He started his career late and should get into the Epsom with a light weight, but for now he will have his next start at Rosehill this Saturday and then head to the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on his was to the big Randwick Mile.”
Last Saturday Gooree had even more cause to celebrate when Waterhouse sent the Choisir debutant, Dreamscape to the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes.
The colt missed the start and came home to beat a classy field in the fastest 1200 metre time for the afternoon.
“The stable has a high opinion of this colt and at this stage his ultimate goal will be the Caulfield Guineas,” Baddock said.
“Gamble Me will head our older brigade this spring and trialled nicely a couple of weeks ago and will trial again this Friday.
“Strategic Maneuver, who emerged as a stable star in early winter racing, is back in work and will also trial on Friday.
“I expect he will resume at the end of September and could be set for the Ascot Vale at Flemington on Derby Day.”
Baddock said Gooree appears to have their most exciting crop of two olds that should be ready to race in the spring.
Among those is Royal Esteem who is by Don Eduardo and is the first foal from their former New Zealand Group One winner Basra.
Other two-year-olds showing promise include Golden Orient, Power Personified, Break of Dawn and Rhythm of Dance.
Baddock said that exciting staying prospect Mr Trinidad, the orphan Shower of Roses foal, will not race during the spring.
“He had one trial and Gai would like to see him grow and develop a little more so he is back in the paddock until the sutumn,” he said.
Autumn Ember, a three-year-old by Don Eduardo from the stud’s former Mooney Valley specialist Blab is another promising youngster who could well emerge during the coming spring racing.
“Gai has told us that she believes we have the most promising team in work with her since she began training for us,” Baddock said.
Gooree also has horses in work with John Hawkes and of those the promising Northern Meteor, who was considered a Golden Slipper prospect in the 2008 autumn, steps out at Canterbury this afternoon
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