Veteran Trainer Secures Bargain Almanzor Filly at RTR

Media Release - Wednesday November 20

Following the retirement of his stakes-winning mare Casino Princess, Cliff Goss turned to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale in search of another filly, which he found early on day one in the form of Lot 25.

Tauranga trainer Cliff Goss.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Goss was in the spotlight over the past 12 months courtesy of the daughter of Casino Prince, who won the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m), and post-retirement was sold to Windsor Park Stud via gavelhouse.com.

At the Ready To Runs, the nonagenarian horseman was on the lookout for progeny of Almanzor and soon settled on a filly by Cambridge Stud’s prominent sire, out of a Keeper mare in Lady Aroha, a half-sister to Gr.2 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) winner and Group One performer Zarius.

$45,000 Almanzor (Fr) filly from Lady Aroha.

“There was a combination of everything, she breezed up very well and she had a good pedigree,” Goss said.

“She was a very relaxed filly walking around before her breeze-up, I always like to see them walking around casually, not jumping around too much. She ticked all the boxes really.

“It’s a bit of a buzz there (at the sales), everyone is trying to buy a horse and it’s whichever horse suits the person. For me, I wanted an Almanzor because he was a champion two-year-old sire. He’s left a lot of speed horses and you’ve got to have that.

Advertisement

“I always preferred colts or geldings, but after I had Casino Princess, I thought she was a good filly, so I’ll settle for another one and hopefully I can find one like her. This filly was the only one I wanted right from the very start, I watched her breeze-up at least 20 times and I thought yes, this is the one.

“I said to myself that I would go to $50,000 and I got her for $45,000, so it was good.”

Goss indicated the filly will now enjoy a break at his daughter and son-in-law, Cherry and Brent Taylor’s Trelawney Stud, before looking for a possible autumn two-year-old preparation.

“She’ll probably be an autumn two-year-old, I’m going to put her out at Trelawney Stud for about a month for a nice freshen-up, then I’ll bring her in and see if she’ll be ready for that,” he said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Significant racing and breeding prospects aplenty in June (Late ) Sale
A range of intriguing broodmares and breeding prospects – as well as many young, in-form racehorses suitable for both the domestic and Hong Kong market – headline a stellar catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Late) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Entries Open for Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale
Australia's leading breeze up style sale, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale, is ready to deliver again for vendors with entries for the 2025 auction now open.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.