Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Speedy pacer Golden Lode enhanced his prospects of gaining a start in the $200,000 WA Derby on November 1 when he gave a remarkable performance to win the Amy And Dack 12.24 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Golden Lode, a well-supported $3.80 third favourite, endured a horror run before surging home from last at the bell to charge to the front 50m from the post and win by a neck from Alta Tribute ($3.50), rating 1.56 over 2130m in the event in which the final 400m sections were run (off the front) in 28sec. and 28.3sec.
“If that run doesn’t get him into the Derby, I don’t know what will,” said driver Deni Roberts. “He has come back in this campaign (five runs for three wins and two seconds) showing a bit more toughness, and that’s why you have just seen him reel off a good half, not just a quarter.
“At this stage he will run in the $50,000 Western Gateway next Friday night (when the winner will automatically qualify for a start in the Derby).”
Roberts said that Golden Lode’s trainers Greg and Skye Bond would have a strong representation in the Derby. “The stable probably will have four or five runners in the Derby, Christopher Dance, Golden Lode, Vegas Strip, Thenu Came Along and Tualou,” she said.
“At this stage I’ll be driving Christopher Dance, with the others all racing in top form.” Christopher Dance made an auspicious Australian debut when Roberts drove the Sweet Lou colt to an impressive victory at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Cristopher Dance won twice as a two-year-old at Alexandra Park late last year, and he now has a record of eight starts for three wins, three placings and $62,032. Golden Lode has raced 21 times for eight wins, seven seconds, one third and $64,949 in prizemoney.
Golden Lode began from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night and settled down in sixth position while the polemarker and $2.35 favourite Kabochon led early. Alta Tribute ($3.50) was restrained from barrier eight and settled down in last position in the field of ten.
Gary Hall Jnr then sent Alta Tribute forward, three wide after 500m to burst past Kabochon and into the lead 300m later. Soon after that $17 chance Blaze Away dashed forward, with Roberts following that pacer with Golden Lode.
“Then we got shuffled out when a horse came off the fence and pushed us (Blaze Away and Golden Lode) three wide,” said Roberts. “It was a mishap when Alta Tribute went to the front. It wasn’t a great circumstance. Stuey (McDonald) restrained, so I had to go back with him, being behind him.
“I had to go all the way back to last, and the plan certainly wasn’t to be restraining to last coming into the bell. That wasn’t great, but I hadn’t done any work at all, whereas the two leaders had.
“Golden Lode can run a nice half at a high speed, so I thought I could round them up. I went four deep down the back, but it didn’t bother me too much.”
Golden Lode is by Always B Miki, and is the sixth foal out of Yankee Dream, who earned $262,989 from 15 wins and 18 placings from 56 starts. She won 11 times in New Zealand and four times in Victoria, and also had three starts for Victorian trainer Dean Braun at Gloucester Park in November and December 2012 for unplaced efforts in a 2503m stand, the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic.
Golden Lode had eight starts for four placings as a two-year-old before blossoming this year for eight wins and three seconds from 13 starts.