Golden Path flies home in Flemington finale

Media Release - Sunday September 14

Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Golden Path staked his claim for higher honours later in the spring with a strong-finishing victory to close out Saturday’s Flemington card.

The six-year-old son of Belardo was second-up in the A$150,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities Trophy (1700m), having resumed with a third over 1600m at Caulfield on August 16.

Golden Path had a far from easy task on Saturday from the extreme outside gate in a 19-horse field and with topweight of 61kg on his back, but he still proved superior.

Golden Path ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Ronald McDonald House Charities Trophy at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Blake Shinn drove him out of the pack and over the top of the tearaway leader Globe, getting up to win by neck from fellow late closers Kingswood and Young Werther.

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“It was a brutally run race,” Shinn said. “I got into a good spot. Globe really made us earn the win, carrying the big weight this guy had. He came off the bit early, but his class really shone through. He ran against some of the best credentialled horses in Australia last prep in Sydney and acquitted himself really well. He carried the weight today, his class shone through and I’m just delighted to get the win on him for Mick and everyone involved.”

Golden Path was competitive in strong company last season, running third in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), fifth in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and sixth in the Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Hill Stakes (2000m). Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are now likely to step him back up to stakes level.

“Blake found a beautiful spot today – I think he was three back and one out from the worst gate,” Price said. “He missed a run leading into this, just because of an inflammatory marker in the blood. That’s what we take bloods for. But he came right, he was right today and he loves Flemington.

“I have one owner that keeps telling me he's live in the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m), so what do you do? Anyway, we'll point that way and see what happens.”

Bred by the Wallace family’s Ardsley Stud, Golden Path was purchased for $35,000 from the 2021 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sale by Pukekohe trainer Michael Rogers. After winning two of his three trials in New Zealand for Rogers, Golden Path was sold to clients of the Price-Kent team.

Racing in the colours of Carl Holt, Golden Path has now had 19 starts for six wins, four placings and A$620,650 in stakes. – NZ Racing Desk.

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Race Result - Ronald McDonald House Charities Trophy 1700m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:42.41
1
Golden Path
- 6g Belardo (IRE) x Golden Destination (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Shinn 61
NZB Karaka Book 2 $35,000
Seller: Ardsley Stud Limited
Buyer: Mr M Rogers
2
0.4
Kingswood
- 6h Roaring Lion (USA) x All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: John Allen 58.5
3
0.5
Young Werther
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 58
NZB Karaka Book 1 $140,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Aquis Farm / O'Brien Thoroughbreds
4
0.5
Globe
- 7g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 59
5
2.5
Ziryab
- 6g Kingman (GB) x Reem (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: L Currie 54
6
2.9
Plymouth
- 4g The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Malfy (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 54
7
3
Deakin
- 6g Australia (GB) x Dealbata (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 60.5
8
3.8
Pounding
- 7g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 58
9
3.9
Go Daddy
- 5g Smooth Daddy (USA) x Libys Dream (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
10
4.2
Scary
- 4h Shocking (AUS) x Never Ever (NZ) (Reliable Man (GB))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 55.5
11
4.4
Dashing Duchess
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Charlotte Russe (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Declan Bates 54
12
5.2
The Map
- 7m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: H Coffey 56
13
5.9
Cadmus
- 7g Gleneagles (IRE) x Allegrezza (GB) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
14
8.9
Flash Feeling
- 7g Iffraaj (GB) x Shanzam (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: D Yendall 54
15
15.9
First Immortal
- 6g Churchill (IRE) x Storm Siren (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Jordan Childs 58.5
16
21.9
Mister Wolfgang
- 7g Puccini (NZ) x Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
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