Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman wins trial as he starts big campaign

Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman took his first steps towards this year’s race with a trial win at Rosehill, plus Annabel Neasham’s plans for Mo’unga and King Frankel.

Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman won a trial at Rosehill on Friday morning. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images

Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman scored his first victory of the campaign when taking out a 1000m barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on Friday.

Goldman was one of a dozen or so stars that stepped out in three Group and Listed class trials.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper led home a Tulloch Lodge quinella, defeating his stablemate, Australian Derby winner Major Beel in the first Rosehill Gardens course proper trial.

Earlier this year Goldman, a former Kiwi, announced himself as one of the most exciting young stayers in the land when winning the Listed Roy Higgins Stakes, which offered ballot exemption into this year‘s Melbourne Cup.

1⃣ Goldman
2⃣ Major Beel
3⃣ Caprice Des Dieux

Goldman, trained by @GaiWaterhouse1 / Adrian Bott, wins a trial at Rosehill Gardens on Friday, beating stablemate Major Beel and Caprice Des Dieux. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/Lzdcf4C6cG

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 20, 2023

“They were out there to have a good stretch and get going,” Bott said.

“There is quite a few options for them but they will have another trial or two and then ready to kick-off in the early part of the spring.”

With Goldman assured of one of the 24 places in the Melbourne Cup it’s likely the son of Verdi will follow a weight-for-age lead-up path to avoid incurring a weight penalty for Australia's biggest handicap at Flemington on November 7.

Gai Waterhouse with Goldman at Tulloch Lodge. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Meanwhile, Anabel Neasham had two runners finish behind the Waterhouse/Bott pair but her main Group 1 weight-for-age performer Mo’unga was scratched at the barriers after he got a hind leg caught up on a barrier petition.

Mo’unga is expected to now trial next week while King Frankel had an easy time in his first public hit out for the stable, trailing the field home.

“King Frankel seems a pretty straight forward horse,” Neasham said.

“That was the plan to have a quiet trial and he is likely to have three trials to get him ready to go first-up at 2000m in the Premier’s Cup.

“We’d love to go Metrop, Caulfield Cup route with him.”

Prior to Friday’s trials, Neasham revealed to Racenet that Mo’unga was coming up better than ever and being targeted at a first-up Winx Stakes defence.

Mo’unga will likely trial next week after he was scratched at the barriers on Friday morning. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

“Mo’unga looks sensational, I’ve never seen him looking so good, he’s stronger again,” she said.

“I’m just delighted the Kellys and Newhaven Park have decided to race him on another year and I really hope the horse rewards them for their decision.

“I’m sure he’s got another big one in him.

“He’ll have a stronger hit out in a couple of weeks and we’ll try to win a second Winx Stakes with him.

“The King Charles is definitely on our radar as are all the weight-for-age Group 1 races.”

The two 900m Group and Listed trials were won by the David Pfieffer-trained Rocketing By and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s I Am Me.

I Am Me leads all the way to win a trial at Rosehill Gardens on Friday, beating the fast-finishing Extremely Lucky and Group 1 winning mare Fangirl. @[e-mail]/Wf8Hg0gQVJ

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 20, 2023

Originally published as Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman wins trial as he starts big campaign