Trainer Michael Clements was glad the raw ability he detected in Golden Peninsula from the first day has translated into a maiden win on Sunday.
The Zimbabwean-born handler also saw a lot of greenness in the son of Sakhee’s Secret, and could only hope it would be ironed out with more racing practice.
Raced by Thai outfit Pupetch Racing Stable and ridden by Corey Brown for the first time, Golden Peninsula proved Clements right at his fourth run. He still did a few things wrong but managed to overcome that chequered run to finish the best at the 300m.
With favourite and debut winner Splinter (Manoel Nunes), who missed the kick a fraction, not quickening as expected, a gaggle of longshots were surprisingly looming as the ones who could steal his thunder.
Golden Peninsula ($55) was one of them as he came charging through the middle of the track to collar race-leader Divergent (Glen Boss, $376) who was showing plenty of cheek on the rails.
A big payout still looked on the cards when $353 smokie Cerdan (Barend Vorster) came with a wet sail on the outside while $146 shot Mr Crowe (John Powell) got into strife when he got checked at the 300m and had to duck back to the inside in search of daylight.
But there was no such hard-luck story for Golden Peninsula who sliced through the pack to go and score by half-a-length from Cerdan with Divergent third another three parts of a length away. Newcomer Elite Beast (Michael Rodd) served notice of his ability with an eye-catching fourth another half-a-length away, a neck clear of the unlucky Mr Crowe.
The winning time was 1min 23.5secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
“He was still very green in the running and Corey confirmed that as well. He misstrode a few times and was all over the place,” said Clements.
“He’s very unsure of himself and still very inexperienced but we thought the 1400m would be a good chance to get him up to more distance.
“After his last spell, he’s strengthened up and improved and has come on further from his last run (first-up fourth to D’Great Bullet).
“I’m very pleased with that win today as I’ve always felt he had ability. He’s just a slow-maturing sort who needed more time.”
Brown said he was suitably impressed by Golden Peninsula and expected him to make further headway in the future.
“It was my first time riding him. He bounded away quite well, and did a good job to keep up with the pace, even if he was still quite green,” said the Australian jockey.
“He’s a nice horse and the further he goes, the better he will get.”
