G1, Golden Goose Sprint
This weekend we will be heading over to South Africa where they will be hosting the running of the G1, Golden Goose Sprint. The race has drawn a full field of fourteen horses and is restricted to those horses that are 3 years old and older. They will travel 6 furlongs across the turf track that will be listed as firm at post time. There are many graded winners in this field and many that will be headed out that are not and that are throwing their names in the hat looking for their first G1 win. We have an interesting field of horses that will challenge in this race, and we wish the best of luck to all of them as they cross the finish line this weekend. The morning line odds have been released, and the post position draw is complete. Let us now take a preview of the horses that will make the start in the G1, Golden Goose Sprint here in South Africa.
| 1 | MORE OF THIS | AUS | 5M | cjt4 | R Dunaway | 20 | 5 | 35% | $948,648 | 0.00 | 6/1 |
Making his way out first will be this 5 year old Bay Horse (BIVOUAC (AUS) x I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) x GALILEO (IRE)) that back in April of 2024 would get up for the win in the G1, Sydney Sprint. He has continued to race at the G1 level in all of his seven starts since winning that race and has failed to hit the boards. His most recent start was in the G1, The Ryder where he would cross the wire in eight. He will need a bigger effort this time out when he heads over to the turf representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 2 | VYZI BUKBARR | NZ | 4G | cancun10 | B J Bergen | 14 | 7 | 79% | $1,305,880 | 224.00 | 9/1 |
This is a 4 year old Brown Gelding (SWEYNESSE x DAIWA MAJOR x MALIBU MOON) that two starts back would find a nice win in the G1, King Kong Sprint. He would then head out in New South Wales where he would make the start in the G1, The Universal and make a nice follow up run to finish second just missing by a half stride. This multiple G1 winner has ran well in his most recent and looks like he could be a contender when he makes the start representing the Midas residency.
| 3 | I CANT THINK | AUS | 5G | lindsypark | C Wyatt | 12 | 3 | 33% | $103,476 | 1.00 | 18/1 |
Next, we will see this 5 year old Brown Gelding (SO YOU THINK x JAPAN x SUNDAY SILENCE) that has not hit the boards since winning an Allowance race back in June of last year. In his most recent start in New South Wales he ran in a Listed Stakes, Orpans Doncaster of which he would never factor as he lingered across the wire in fourteenth. He needs to show a little more talent in Saturday’s start if he is to contend when he heads out of the paddock representing the Orphan Racing residency.
| 4 | WOETTE’S COMET | AUS | 5G | wonder8 | D Kerckaert | 27 | 4 | 59% | $317,542 | 45.00 | 9/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Bay Gelding (KING’S LEGACY (AUS) x KINGMAN x FRANKEL (GB)) that last season would hit the boards in a couple of graded starts but is still seeking a trip to the winner’s circle at the graded level. Last time out he would make the start in New South Wales in the DUR 2025 Sydney Autumn Carnival-The Galaxy. He would cross the wire in third some two lengths back. He will head out in the post parade here in South Africa and will be looking for that trip to the winner’s circle when he breaks from his gate representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 5 | KZ SASRAI | SAF | 5M | sara | H Artack | 19 | 9 | 68% | $1,020,460 | 130.00 | 5/1 |
Next, we have this 5 year old Chestnut Horse (CAPTAIN OF ALL (SAF) x SEPOY x DANEHILL) that last season would pick up a couple of graded wins which included the G3, The Blank Eddie and the G2, The Len Knocks. He then had a few trips off the boards but would head out in Dubai for his most recent start in a Listed Stakes, URC-Al Quoz Sprint of which he led the group until the final strides of which he got caught at the wire and would finish second by a neck. He gets one of his favorite jockeys up top this weekend when he heads out of the paddock representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 6 | BRAGI ACCLA | IRE | 4G | daniel2 | J Ledwith | 15 | 8 | 60% | $1,444,860 | 292.00 | 8/1 |
Making his way out next is the 4 year old Bay Gelding (ACCLAMATION x DANEHILL DANCER x SEEKING THE GOLD) that has been running sharply in his two most recent starts. He is a multiple graded winner, and last season would get the win in the G1, Iron Knight Sprint. In his most recent start, he would again find another G1 win when he headed out in Dubai in the G1, Sand Castle Turf Sprint. He closed nicely down the stretch when he found himself back in seventh. He would pick off horse and get the win by a half length showing a nice effort in this race. He will be seeking back to back G1 wins when he heads over to his gate representing the European Union Racing Organization.
| 7 | GIANT TERN | KY | 5M | dgr5 | P Shelby | 25 | 4 | 40% | $159,076 | 0.00 | 15/1 |
This is a 5 year old Bay Horse (ASTERN (AUS) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x CURLIN) that has primarily been making starts in Claiming races and with very little success. He would make his most recent start in Queensland when he hopped up in class to race in a Listed Stakes, Ks Impekkable Turf Sprint. He would never be a factor in this race as he crossed the wire in seventh. He looks to be in high water against this field as he again jumps up in class representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 8 | FLOVIN | SAF | 5G | magicotown0 | G Good | 25 | 8 | 60% | $193,987 | 11.00 | 17/1 |
Next, we have this 5 year old Chestnut Gelding (FLOWER ALLEY x VINDICATION x NUREYEV) that has not seen the winners circle since finding a win in an Allowance race last November in New South Wales. He has recently gotten a couple of third place finishes this season at the Allowance level as well. He would make his most recent start in another Allowance race in Queensland but would finish off the boards in sixth. This looks to be a big jump in class for him this weekend and he will need to show up with a lot more fire in those legs if he is to be competitive with this field when he heads out in the post parade to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 9 | BARBA BLANCA | JPN | 4G | aussiemade | C Meads | 18 | 7 | 78% | $324,472 | 43.00 | 8/1 |
This is a 4 year old Bay Gelding (HARBINGER x GALILEO (IRE) x KRIS S.) that has made four nice starts in a row for the owner. Two starts back he would come in third in a Listed Stakes, Syn City Turf Dash. He would then follow that up with his most recent start in New Zealand where he would come out in another Listed Stakes, Celtic Peace Turf Special. He would bolt from the gate and grab the lead and never look back as he led this field gate to wire to get the win. After running that 111 speed rating in his most recent start the owner feels it is time to give his horse a graded opportunity this weekend as he bumps him up in class representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 10 | THE SKYSCRAPER | KY | 4M | heathy | K Ledwith | 19 | 2 | 42% | $87,281 | 4.00 | 18/1 |
Next, we will see this 4 year old Bay Colt (ART COLLECTOR x DUBAWI (IRE) x STREET CRY) that was making starts on the dirt track but that would transition over to the turf and break his maiden last year in October. He would also find an Allowance win this season in Minnesota. He has made multiple stakes starts but all of them have been fruitless including his most recent start in New Zealand in the G3, April Showers Cap of which he lingered across the wire in thirteenth. This weekend’s start looks to be a big challenge for him when he heads over to his gate representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 11 | TOUCHOUAC | AUS | 4M | surf4bass1 | P Harzheim | 12 | 1 | 25% | $50,230 | 0.00 | 36/1 |
Here we have a 4 year old Bay Colt (BIVOUAC (AUS) x PIERRO (AUS) x I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS)) that would break his maiden as a 3 year old last November. Since that start he has been off the boards which included two stakes starts. This is one of the longer choices in the morning line and we will need to see much improvement when he heads out in South Africa representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 12 | DUCKING BULLET | IRE | 4M | coagulate8 | GD Mate | 16 | 4 | 50% | $779,314 | 228.00 | 7/1 |
Next, we have this 4 year old Chestnut Colt (SOTTSASS (FR) x I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) x NORTHERN DRAKE (AUS)) that would get up for the win in New South Wales last season in the G2, The Get Shorty. He then had a few off the board starts but then two starts back would get back on the boards finishing third in the G1, New Market Handicap. He then made his most recent start in Dubai where he would briefly have the lead at the third call but would give it up down the stretch and cross the wire in second in the G1, Sand Castle Turf Sprint. He is on the hunt for his first G1 win when he makes the start representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 13 | IM NOT THE DEVIL | AUS | 5G | mitole | J Stivers | 25 | 7 | 72% | $774,369 | 180.00 | 5/1 |
This is a 5 year old Bay Gelding (FARNAN (AUS) x GALILEO (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY) that has been running nicely and that has only been off the boards one time since February of 2024. In those starts he would find a couple of G3 win in the G3, The Blue Pin and the G3, The Umvria. He has been seeking a G1 win but he has come close to getting it several times. In his most recent start in New South Wales he would hit the boards in third in the G1, The Universal. He is in the hunt for his first G1 win here in South Africa when he heads over to the turf representing The Mecca residency.
| 14 | NATURES THUNDER | AUS | 5M | corzak5 | P Bangs | 35 | 2 | 26% | $93,568 | 1.00 | 46/1 |
Breaking from the outside gate will be this 5 year old Bay Horse (BIVOUAC (AUS) x STORM CAT x DANZIG) that is the longest choice in the morning line. This horse has struggled in most of his recent starts but in his most recent start he would find a third place finish in an Allowance race in New South Wales. He ran a 97 speed rating in that race that is his highest since January of 2024. I must agree with the odds makers on this one when he makes the start representing the East-West Connection residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
2-Vyzi Bukbarr: Proven G1 contender. Can he find another G1 win this weekend?
6-Bragi Accla: G1 win in most recent start. Can he repeat?
12-Ducking Bullet: Hit the boards in G1 most recent starts. Can he get the win this time?