Winning races and winning hearts, local horse Goldie’s Chance is showing no signs of slowing down after her victory in the 50th Gore Guineas.
Owned by Kylie and Graeme Davidson, of Riversdale, the 3yrold filly came out on top in the listed feature race at the Gore Racing Club on Saturday.
Mrs Davidson was there cheering with members of the On the Gold racing syndicate — a group of her family and friends which leased the horse.
‘‘It was pretty crazy. When she took the lead in that home straight, we were definitely all yelling.’’
Nobody in the group could contain their excitement and her son even cried ‘‘happy tears’’.
To get into a listed race such as the Gore Guineas was an achievement in itself, but to win was on a whole other level.
‘‘To pull that off . . . on home turf where all the syndicate members live was just pretty amazing.
‘‘Everyone’s just on cloud nine — still buzzing.’’
While it had only been the horse’s fifth race, Goldie’s Chance had already been proving herself.
‘‘She’d been doing so well. She’s never run a bad race.
‘‘She’s just showed so much natural ability right from the start, so we knew we were kind of on to a good one.’’
Mrs Davidson had always enjoyed horses, and it had been her dream to race one of her own.
She first bought Goldie’s Chance as a weanling for $21,000 with the help of Southland trainer Robert Dennis.
He saw the horse had good parents in Iffraaj and Genealogy, and did all the early work in getting her ready to race.
‘‘It was always the intention that when she got closer to making a start [in] races, that I would syndicate her out to involve my family and friends,’’ Mrs Davidson said.
‘‘It’s so fun to do it as part of a syndicate because it wouldn’t be as much fun if it was just me and my husband going to the races.
‘‘To do it with all the family and friends as well just makes it all the more special.’’
They had all fallen in love with Goldie’s Chance.
‘‘She’s such a lovely, lovely-natured horse.
‘‘Everyone’s got very attached to her.
‘‘She’s just brought so many good stories to everybody.’’
For Mrs Davidson in particular, having Goldie’s Chance helped her when she was undergoing cancer treatment.
‘‘She’s been something good to focus on.’’
With one Guineas race under their belt, their sights were now set on on the Guineas in Southland and potentially Dunedin.
Goldie’s Chance was now back in Christchurch with her trainer Ross Beckett, who told NZ Racing Desk he was delighted with the victory.
‘‘It was no surprise — she’s a pretty smart filly.
‘‘She has been bought as a broodmare prospect long-term and she is doing agreat job.”
He and Goldie’s Chance were quite similar in some ways.
‘‘She is laid-back, . . . doesn’t mind a trip and tends to eat up.
‘‘The owners wanted me to run the filly here.
‘‘It was a great day out and terrific that everything worked out all right.’’
Gore Racing Club president Cameron Grant said he could not remember the last time a horse connected to Gore had won the Gore Guineas.
‘‘If anyone deserved it, Kylie deserved to get a win.’’
Despite a couple of setbacks on the day, everyone seemed to have a good time.
‘‘There was a good crowd of people there.’’
There were 10 races overall. The Gore Guineas offered the highest stakes of $70,000.
It was fantastic for a local horse to take not only the Gore Guineas but also the $45,000 MLT Gore Cup, which was won by Humbucker, Mr Grant said.
Humbucker had Gore owners and was trained by Ellis Winsloe, of Knapdale.
‘‘They’re two local successes, really.’’
