Verdi's Gritty Goldman wins Pakenham Cup

Breednet - Saturday December 21

One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman has bounced back to winning form for the first time in more than 18-months when leading throughout to score in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday.

Goldman wins the Pakenham Cup. Photo: Bruno Canatelli

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman last saluted in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March of last year which rocketed him to 2023 Cup favouritism.

While subsequent preparations haven’t gone to plan, Goldman relished being in his favoured on-speed ride under Beau Mertens and out-toughed runner-up Grand Pierro in winning the A$300,000 feature.

Muramasa made the best ground from last, while Smokin Romans battled on well after tracking the speed, but all honours were with the winner.

Third-up and getting out to his preferred staying distance, the six-year-old son of Verdi ensured syndicator Darby Racing again remained in the limelight after a remarkable run through December.

“I spoke to Gai this morning, and the only instructions were to give it a Gai Waterhouse ride – it’s pretty simple when she wants that done,” winning jockey Beau Mertens said.

“They presented the horse in great order for me to do so and once I jumped and got to the front I had a very enjoyable time and built from the 800m. In typical Waterhouse fashion, they keep running.

“Probably in the last 100m, Grand Pierro came up alongside and really tested him, but my bloke dug deep and was strong.”

Advertisement

The win also held some personal significance to the in-form hoop, who emulated his late father Peter in riding a Pakenham Cup winner, with Peter successful in 2002 and 2004.

“It’s unbelievable. Many years later, we (have both) got the job done, it’s always good picking off races that Dad won,” he said.

Goldman has now won six of 18 starts, with a further three placings and amassed $640,368 in prizemoney.

The stayer is a son of the Zabeel stallion Verdi, a half-brother to the multiple Group One winners Sir Slick and Puccini, who stands at Long Acres Stud in Canterbury.

Prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Verdi won three of his eight starts and had Group One potential before a tendon injury pre-maturely ended his career.

Bred by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Goldman is out of the Montjeu mare Goldsmith and won two of his four starts in New Zealand for the Smithies and original trainer Tony Pike.

Goldman was sold to syndicators Darby Racing via bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo following a narrow victory over 1600m at Pukekohe in November 2022.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Kiwi Bred Goldman earns golden Melbourne Cup ticket
Untapped former New Zealand galloper Goldman has earned himself a start in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with a dominant all-the-way win at Flemington.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
Yes Yes Yes to Stand at Gooree Park Stud
When Yes Yes Yes scored a course record breaking win in The Everest in 2019, the three year-old colt delivered a fairytale result for his ownership group and some of those owners are committed to ensuring his future at stud going forward and they include Julia Ritchie.
One To Watch - Kembla Grange
Darby Racing’s New Zealand import Goldman made a statement on Thursday at his Australian debut for the Waterhouse/Bott stable at Kembla Grange.