Taree preview: Buck Pharoah to help trainer Neil Godbolt in his quest to honour racing icon

Mid-North Coast legend Neil Godbolt is keen to do his bit to help salute and honour his old boss and friend, the late Ivan Livermore, at Taree.

Trainer Neil Godbolt would love to get a winner on the day honouring his old boss and friend, Ivan Livermore, at Taree.

Venerable Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt would love nothing more than to play a cameo role at Taree on the annual card that pays homage to the Mid-North Coast’s industry icon, Ivan Livermore.

The late Mr Livermore’s achievements and contribution to racing in the region (and beyond) were both numerous and generous beyond all bounds.

No one was closer to Livermore, or admired him more, than Godbolt - himself a beacon of racing on the Mid-North Coast.

“I worked for him for 20-odd years up until the day he died,” Godbolt proudly said.

“We had a lot of luck together. Actually, in the time I was with him, I think I trained 1,341 winners for him.

Lord Akomeed wins the opener at Taree! pic.twitter.com/MxfjC5V9mC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 20, 2024

“We had an enormous run and he was a fantastic man to train for.

“I rode a lot of winners for him before I took up training and he offered me a job as a full-time trainer for him when he built his track here at Port Macquarie and I was with him for 23 years all up.

“They named the grandstand at Port Macquarie after him.”

Taree will host the Livermore Cup and while Godbolt will be a spectator, not participator in the feature race, he could easily claim a few races on the undercard with as many as five of his string in action.

Chief among them is Buck Pharoah who resumes in a hotly-contested Stacks Law Firm Benchmark 82 Handicap over 1005m.

“He’s a horse that has had a few little niggly injuries and that sort of thing but is a horse that has got some potential,” Godbolt said.

“He has been very honest from day-one, his first start ever in a race, he’s just been one of those really nice horses that tries hard all the time.

“He gets through anything at all (but) he’s won more on the Heavy than he has on the Good tracks.

Wandjad wins on the inside in the Taree opener for local trainer @Wilkes_Racing! pic.twitter.com/Nk6ww4VIki

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 23, 2024

“He’s been off the scene for a fair while so whatever he does on Friday, he’ll improve on for sure.”

Godbolt presents punters with an interesting scenario, a conundrum even, when Lord Akomeed steps up to 1405m in the last race on the program, the Air and Appliances Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap.

“The owner has been keen to get him over a bit further and see how he goes,” Godbolt explained.

“I’m probably a little bit hesitant as to whether he will get the 1400m strong. I said to the owner the other day, if we are going to give him a go at it, he is rock hard fit now so we’ll give him a crack and just see what he can do.”

One of Godbolt’s other major players on the day is the somewhat appropriately named Point To Prove who remains without a gold or silver medal in his 15 starts ahead of the Dean Mills Plumbing Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1605m).

“He’s been a bit disappointing really. He showed me a bit of potential but just hasn’t lived up to it but hopefully this time I will get him up over 2000m and that’s what he always looks like he would need if he is going to do anything,” he said

NORMAN IN THE SWING TO MAKE IT TO IN-A-ROW

One time Ingham/Waller gelding Norman will pass a significant milestone for his current connections if he can make it back-to-back wins.

The son of Exceed And Excel was Lot 66 in the June 2022 Inglis Online sale where and when he changed hands for $14,000 and became an instant member of the Gavin Groth string at Gunnedah.

At the point of sale, Norman had earnings of $26,420,

If he wins this week, the now seven-year-old will have won just over $100,000 since his change of address.

That’s even though Groth is on record as saying there are two Normans.

“Norman has turned it around a little bit,” Groth said.

Norman salutes at juicy odds!

Billy Cray on the saddle for Gavin Groth. pic.twitter.com/UGaFPz1Ut9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2023

“I am not going to say it too loud because he might hear me but no, he’s going well.”

This would have been Norman’s eighth run at Gunnedah but will instead be at the nearby Tamworth track, a venue he has also been to seven times.

“I would have much rather it have been on his home track for obvious reasons, just between his ears, but he does like Tamworth,” Groth said.

“If you have a look at his record there, it is probably better than Gunnedah.”

Groth could have as many as six runners at Tamworth including Showtime Sassy who steps out in the Pursehouse Rural Class 2 Handicap (1200m).

“Good barrier, good weight, so she is in a race that she can be competitive in,” Groth surmised.

“She is very consistent, she has been in the top four at just about every start except for when I took her down to Scone for a race at the Cup meeting.

“She didn’t have any luck there but outside of that she has picked up a cheque every time she has gone around.”

Groth will combine with talented young Tamworth-based apprentice Siena Grima twice, first with the aforementioned Norman, the second when Powerstone signs off in the last race on the card.

The Victorian-bred mare will, Groth says, find the 1000m much more suitable than her August 3 appearance in an 800m scamper at Gilgandra.

“The trainer wants a kick in the backside,” he said. “I put it in the wrong race.

“Just the worst placement you’ve ever seen.

“She was last on the home bend, 180m straight, and rattled home.

“The jockey got off and said, 1000m and she’s winning.”

Originally published as Taree preview: Buck Pharoah to help trainer Neil Godbolt in his quest to honour racing icon