Arabian Gold wins 2014 Pj’s Irish Pub Golden Pendant Group 3 $300,000 at Rosehill (NSW) 3yo+Fillies & Mares, 1400m.
Arabian Gold began smartly from her good barrier (2) and settled in a nice spot, sixth on the rails, following the favourite Catkins. She was full of running at the turn and tracked Catkins through before switching to the rails on passing the 200m. She then finished too well to score an impressive first-up win and looks set for a very good spring campaign. It was also an excellent riding performance by Blake Shinn.
Catkins was quickly away and led early before easing to race in third place on the rails. She under riding on
straightening, got a split to hit the lead at the 200m and then fought on quite well, having no chance with the late closing winner, to finish second.My Sabeel worked from her wide barrier (10) in the early stages but was trapped three wide without cover in fourth place. She moved up (still deep) rounding the home turn, challenged at the 200m and then battled on very well for third after a wide difficult trip throughout.
Neena Rock was well back in tenth place to the 600m. She went to the extreme outside rounding the home bend and then put in a powerful finishing burst in the centre of the track for an eye catching (1.7 lengths) fourth. It was her second promising effort since coming from New Zealand and she should prove hard to beat, especially over a bit more ground.
Fine Bubbles was eighth, one off the rails, went wide on straightening and kept running on to finish a sound (1.8 lengths) fifth while Chintz made ground from ninth on the rails to finish (2.9 lengths) sixth.
