Five-year-old gelding Golden Path continues to go from strength to strength and made it three wins in succession when winning the Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the son of Belardo settled just behind the speed under regular rider Chad Schofield and when favourite Aramco lay out upon straightening, Golden Path seized the opportunity to continue his good run of form.
The handsome chestnut had a length and a half to spare over Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Manzoice, who ran well-fresh up to finish second.
“He had six weeks between runs and we just put him out on some green grass and got him going through some trails, doing something different but keeping him busy,” Assistant trainer Ben Elam said.
“When a horse has had this many runs, you don't need to do a lot with them other than keep them happy.”
Elam said the addition of blinkers had been the key to the form resurgence from Golden Path.
“We had a real query on this horse. That's why blinkers went on after Newcastle and he's just a different horse with them on. Chad said that first start he had those blinkers on that he really switched on and he actually really wanted to savage the line, which is what we need to see from him because he did tend to think about it.
“We’ve got some targets for him so we'll space his runs a little bit. Obviously, the Premier's Cup (Gr.3, 2000m) is in two weeks and then there's a couple of little options that we can fiddle around with some good prize money.
“He's had a lot of runs this time in so we'll just train him as we see him and he'll tell us if he's had enough.
“He thrives on wet ground, he likes dry ground, so we have a very versatile horse in front of us.”
By Belardo, who previously shuttled to Haunui Farm, Golden Path is out of the winning Dubai Destination mare Golden Destination.
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 12 starts for five wins and two placings and amassed A$447,250 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk
