Goodwood glory goal for Gordon’s Gytrash
GYTRASH has already provided Gordon Richards the highlight of his training career but winning the $400,000 Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) in his own backyard today would be even more special.
“It would be everything,’’ Richards said. “I’ve trained here all my life. It would be great for the staff, they just don’t work with the horses, they love the horses,’’ he said.
Gytrash’s only unplaced effort came in last year’s Goodwood when down the track behind Despatch, but things have certainly taken off over the past 12 months.
He’s won three races at Flemington, including his breakout win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, and banked $918,850 in the process.
One thing in his favour will be the 2020 Goodwood shapes as a race with genuine speed.
“There looks to be good pace both inside and outside of him,’’ Richards said.
“Hopefully he can be two or three off the fence just off the pace.
“He sat four deep in the Irwin the other day facing the breeze and that didn’t seem to worry him, he can get on a hot pace and quicken.’’
Richards said there was no doubt this year’s edition of SA’s premier sprint feature was a Goodwood loaded with depth. “It’s pretty open, it’s a really good race,’’ he said.
Ladbrokes yesterday saw the money start to roll in for Behemoth, with one $4000 bet at $14. The horse was heavily backed before just missing in last year’s race.
Trekking remains the most popular horse punters backed from $9 into $7.50 to sit on the third line of betting just behind 2018 winner Santa Ana Lane ($7), while Gytrash remains a solid $3.60 favourite.