Beau Mertens joins late father on Pakenham Cup honour roll after winning on Goldman

Beau Mertens ticked off another race his late father Peter won after producing a “Gai Waterhouse ride” on Goldman to salute in the Pakenham Cup.

Goldman (right) digs deep to hold off Grand Pierro in the Pakenham Cup. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Goldman would not be denied in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer led in trademark stable style and refused to relent as runner-up Grand Pierro challenged in the straight.

With the tough win, jockey Beau Mertens joined late father Peter on the Pakenham Cup honour roll.

Peter Mertens won the Pakenham Cup twice with Long Kingston (2002) and Youthful (2004).

Mertens died last year after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

“It’s unbelievable. Many years later, you can get the job done,” Beau Mertens said.

“But it’s always good picking off races that Dad won, and obviously when he was still with us, we used to get winners and I used to judge if he had won one or if I had won one.

“Most of the time, he’d always have one up on me. So it’s always good to tick off some races that he’s had some great success in.”

Goldman off the canvas in the Pakenham Cup! 🏆@GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott get the stayer back to his best!@beau_mertens@Darby_Racingpic.twitter.com/MDzy2NbgKq

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 21, 2024

Mertens knew he was on the right horse after speaking to Waterhouse on Saturday morning.

“We spoke to Gai this morning and basically her only instructions were, ‘Give it a Gai Waterhouse ride’,” Mertens said.

“It’s pretty simple when she wants that done and she presented the horse in great order for me to do so.

“Once I jumped and got to the front, I just had a very enjoyable time and, just built from the 800m and in typical Waterhouse fashion (he) kept running.”

Beau Mertens hold the Pakenham Cup aloft. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Despite being tested late, Mertens remained confident Goldman would cling on.

“I was pretty confident at the 100m he was going to hold because Grand Pierro came up beside me and really tested him. But my bloke really dug deep,” Mertens said.

“He was strong and when I quickened up in the straight I just had a lovely run, I got a bit excited.

“But it is a long straight here at Pakenham so I wasn’t counting my pennies too early.”

Favourite Muramasa sustained a strong gallop from back in the field but could do no better than third.

Smokin’ Romans rounded out the top four.

Originally published as Beau Mertens joins late father on Pakenham Cup honour roll after winning on Goldman