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Go Racing chase Trentham Group One spoils

3 minute read

Albert Bosma reckons he has four great chances for a "marketing dream" ahead of the upcoming Karaka yearling sales.

Prince Mambo (Tab 1) running in the Hawke's Bay Guineas. Picture: Trish Dunell

Bosma manages the Go Racing syndicates and with runners in three Group One races at Trentham and the Karaka Million in the next week, excitement levels are high.

"This is what we buy horses for - to have horses that can run in Group One races," Bosma said.

"We're going to have a runner in each of the three Group Ones over the Wellington Cup carnival and all three are live chances as well. We don't have big numbers of horses so we're very proud of our strike rate of having so many runners in Group One races."

On Saturday, the Go Racing colours will be sported by the Stephen McKee-trained Prince Mambo in the Gr.1 AIB Group Insurance Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham and on the Stephen Marsh-trained Ruud Awakening in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) on the same programme.

Prince Mambo, already twice placed at Group One level in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes and the 2000 Guineas, tuned up for the Levin Classic with an eye-catching fifth in an open sprint at Tauranga earlier this month.

"Prince Mambo is twice Group One-placed - I think the only Group One performer in the field - and racing left-handed is better for him," Bosma said.

"He should have won last start. He got blocked halfway down the straight and had to go around them to make his run. For a three-year-old to be doing that against older horses was a pretty good effort. He's a genuine winning chance."

TAB bookmakers have Prince Mambo on the fifth line of betting at $8, behind Sardaaj at $2.10, Huka Eagle at $4.40, Kolonel Kev at $6 and Taken The Liberty at $7.

Ruud Awakening is an $18 outsider for the Telegraph but Bosma believes she is an upset chance of winning.

"We can't fault her. She galloped the best of her preparation this week," he said.

"Her run in the Railway wasn't bad and she's primed to run the best race of her campaign this weekend. We would have preferred to have drawn inside 13 but she's going the best she has all preparation so we're expecting something a bit special from her in the Telegraph."

Go Racing silks are set to be carried by the Lisa Latta-trained Mighty Solomon in Saturday week's Gr.1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham and the Marsh-trained Billy Mojo in the Karaka Million the following day at Ellerslie, on the eve of the Karaka yearling sales.

"We bought 13 yearlings at Karaka last year and we'll probably look at the about the same number this year. We've got some pretty good support again this year," he said.