International Weekend of Racing for Go Racing

Media Release - Thursday August 1

Germany, France, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Kazakhstan – it reads like the list of competitors in an obscure Olympic event, however, these are the countries involved with Go Racing’s runners this weekend.

Go Racing is primed for an interesting weekend Photo: Race Images

“When I started Go Racing 20 years ago, I never thought I would go into a weekend like this,” Go Racing director Albert Bosma said.

“We’ve got a Group One runner by an Australian sire in Germany, a German-bred horse debuting in Ireland, a horse we purchased in England and another we purchased in France, and two NZ-breds running in Australia.

“It’s a sign of the global nature of the sport that we can embrace but it’s also something we’re really proud of. Go Racing has attacked the game globally and to have a weekend like this it’s quite remarkable.”

The New Zealand-based syndicators will look to add a German Oaks to Sentimental Miss’s 2019 Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) when talented filly Je Zous lines up in the €500,000 Gr.1 Preis der Diana (2200m), Germany’s equivalent of The Oaks, at Dusseldorf on Monday morning New Zealand time.  

Je Zous is one of five horses that Go Racing have based at the stable of Joseph O’Brien in Ireland.

“We’ve got a lovely team of horses up there,” Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt said. “We’ve purchased some lovely horses of late and we’ll be buying more later in the year. We’re building up a good team with Joseph and a good profile up there.”

A winner and stakes-performer as a juvenile, Je Zous has finished third in two Group Three events this season and she ran a creditable fifth in the Gr.2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot at her last start.

“She’s come through her run at Royal Ascot really well and it was a good strong effort from her on that day,” Allnutt said.

“She’ll give a good account of herself in Germany. She’s a good improving sort of filly, she’s quite tough, she’ll handle the distance and it’s exciting to have her racing up there.

“We did have our doubts about the distance of the Ribblesdale Stakes, but she handled it no problem and showed that she’s right up there with some of the better three-year-old fillies in the UK, and the form coming out of that race is very good.

The subsequent Gr.1 Irish Oaks winner You Got Me, finished fourth in the Ribblesdale and third placed Kalpana has since won the Listed Glasgow Stakes.

Advertisement

O’Brien has been happy with the Irish-bred daughter of Zoustar’s work and he was thrilled to secure the services of Kazakhstani jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.

“She’s had a good preparation since Ascot and the ground is going to be on the easier side which will suit her well,” he said.

“We have Bauyrzhan Murzabayev on board and he’s just about the best rider that you can have onboard in Germany, he’s been champion jockey there a number of times and I was delighted to be able to secure him because he knows that track better than anyone.

“The track appears to suit horses that are ridden prominently, so we’ll look to give her a more positive ride this time and obviously it would be great if she could get a share of the spoils.”

While no Kiwi representatives will be on course to cheer her on, Go Racing will be represented by a key member of their team in UK-based bloodstock agent Stuart Boman and his family in Dusseldorf.

Je Zous is one of two runners Go Racing have in Europe this weekend, with German-bred Nobler set to make his debut in a maiden two-year-old race over 1400m at Galway in Ireland on Saturday morning New Zealand time.

“He’s a horse that we purchased out of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up sale in May,” Allnutt said. “We paid 120,000gns for him. He’s a really nice horse, his breeze up was good, he fitted all of our criteria and scored very well on the data we use to assess horses.

“He’s done really well in training, and he’s had one trial over 1400m in which he did a really nice job and he’s come through that really well and trained on nicely.

“He’s going to be a horse that will get over ground eventually, but it looks to be a nice starting point for him, and we do expect a nice run.”

It’s a rare weekend where Go Racing don’t have a runner on their home turf of New Zealand but the international story continues in Australia where they have Speycaster, a horse they purchased from England, Up and Under, purchased from France, recent UK Import Tajanis and NZ-breds Lord Ardmore and Wairere Falls running in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Zealand Makes Presence Felt in Hong Kong’s 2024-25 Season
From a freakish sprinter with a (NZ) suffix to an exciting group of up-and-comers sourced from the Karaka sale ring, New Zealand’s influence was strongly felt on Hong Kong racetracks during the 2024-25 season.
Amelia’s Jewel Family Produces Wootton Bassett 2YO SW
Wootton Bassett (GB) added yet another new two year old stakes-winner to his tally overnight in Ireland with the Group III Silver Flash Stakes (7 ½ f) at Leopardstown going to a filly that is closely related to Aussie Group I winner Amelia’s Jewel.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.