After her debut win at 2 in the $200,000 Inglis Challenge on Wagga Gold Cup Day, trainer John Sargent indicated Pinatubo (IRE) filly Global Goal would be spelled with the Princess Series, and in particular the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) her goal - mission complete.
Contesting two previous legs of the Princess series where she finished in the money on both occasion, Global Goal always looked as if the mile would suit and while Bangkok Hottie started favourite after winning the G2 Furious Stakes and G2 Tea Rose Stakes, Global Goal jumped the narrow third elect.
As Matthew Smith’s Queen’s Gamble jumped swifty from the outside barrier of seven, jockey Tommy Berry took the daughter of Anders forward to lead with Bangkok Hottie settling in second and De Armas (NZ) tracking along in third after jumping from barrier 1.
With just one behind her in the run, jockey Dylan Gibbons was content to settle back in the field aboard Global Goal with a nice pace being set upfront from Queen’s Gamble.
Tommy Berry's filly took the field into the home turn as De Armas looked a threat along the inside rail while Bangkok Hottie looked the one as she set out after the leader.
Taking the lead at the 200m mark, Bangkok Hottie went for home, and while De Armas was still making ground along the rail, it was Dylan Gibbons and Global Goal where were rattling home at a significant rate down the outside.
Getting her head in front before the line, in the end it appeared a soft win for the lightly raced filly who was only having her fourth start.
“Dylan rode her a treat today,” said Sargent. “It was always going to be tactical but he used his head, got on his ‘bike’ early and she outstayed them.”
“She is going to the paddock Monday then either the Spring Champion Stakes of the 1000 Guineas. There is not a lot of her and she will be better in the autumn. She deserved it, she was peaking at the right time.”
“We have a younger half-sister by Maurice that looks very promising, too. I have had some good fillies for Jonathan and it is great to get this result for him.”
“That’s the way to ride her. Dylan knows her, he’s a very dedicated jockey and he can ride the big races as good as anyone.”
Having ridden her in all four starts, Gibbons was pleased when the barriers came out.
“When I saw I drew out today, I thought we’re going to get clear air, and when you give her clear air she’s an absolute demon.”
“So once I set out after them – and to her credit she has chased down some good fillies because that last furlong I thought I was motoring well enough to win but when I wasn’t taking ground off them I got a bit worried. But her last fifty or twenty metres, that’s a horse that wants to win.”
“She’s an amazing horse because the first time I trialled her, she pinged and led over 700 and I couldn’t hold her, and every other time I’ve ridden her since she doesn’t know how to get on the bridle.
“She’s obviously maturing as time goes on. You ride her at home, and you wouldn’t think she hits a flat spot because there are no flat spots at home.
“She’s just a little ripper. All she’s done is please us this whole prep and I’m just thrilled for John and the owners. They’ve stuck solid the whole way through and they’re a great bunch of people to ride for.”
The win took Global Goal's overall record to two wins and two placed performances from just four starts with earnings of $634,440.
Bred in partnership between Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd and GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd, the filly was purchased from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2025 Inglis Easter yearling sale for $250,000 by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Jonathan Munz.
The best of three winners from five named foals out of the Fastnet Rock mare Tides, herself a sister to triple G1 winner Shoals who was also raced by Munz, Global Goal comes from a mouth watering pedigree which includes the likes of G1 winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Al Maher, Hurricane Sky, He’s No Pie Eater and Schwarz as well as recent G3 winner and Everest contender Blue Door.
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock went to $200,000 to secure the Maurice (Jpn) half-brother to Global Goal at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale with the unraced colt named Wakefield, also in the Sargent stable.
Tides has since foaled a filly by Castelvecchio and is due to foal this spring to Too Darn Hot (GB).
One of two G1 winners for Darley’s Pinatubo, the Shamardal stallion has some solid southern hemisphere results with 14 winners from 37 runners highlighted by six individual stakes performers.
The European Champion 2YO and three-time G1 winner is currently covering his fifth Australian book of mares at Kelvinside, standing this season at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
