Goulburn’s first race meeting of the new season has lift off this Monday but history was made recently with the 2024/25 racing season throwing up a four-way dead heat in the local horse of the year category.
Early season cred went the way of Xcessive Force (Danielle Seib) who looks a horse going places after notching two wins from three career starts to date. The daughter of Brutal backed up a debut summer win with a return bout of ‘winningitis’ in the Autumn, that form line franked thereafter by runner up So You Pence who went on to win two on the bounce.
Danny Williams also produced plenty of winning plays throughout the Goulburn season…stablemates Air Play and Highway Strip sharing the premiership spoils, both registering two wins on their home patch. Highway Strip progressing to finish runner-up in two subsequent Highway Handicap races at Royal Randwick to round out the campaign.
Let’s Go Brandon (Wayne Hudd) secured his place as part of the winning quartet with two wins on the bounce. The galloper going maiden win all up a class two win in his mid-year campaign.
Danny Williams also ‘trained on’ to maintain his status as “The Big Merino” up Goulburn way, securing another Local Trainer of the Year gong. Williams narrowly prevailing over Danielle Seib by a single point.
Keagan Latham added the Goulburn premiership to his Kembla Grange pelt, proving his value to trainers, connections and punters whenever he made the trip up the Hume. In winning the Jockey of the Year category. Latham banked 11 winners (at strike rate of over 18%) and another 11minor placings to hold off keen numbers from Jean Van Overmeire and Nick Heywood.
The budding brigade of riders was led by Glenn Cahill who secured the Apprentice Jockey of the Year title. The apprentice had a break-out year that would test Goulburn’s Supermax facility. His seven wins backed up by another 13 runner-up results.
Most of the above could easily pick up where they left off come Monday’s meeting which presents as an even looking seven race card on a Soft 7 rated surface.
Both premiership winning hoops are well exposed, Latham has six rides whilst Glen Cahill has four. Cahill treks south chasing more ‘’Hope and Glory’…literally…Tash Burleigh’s same named gelding one of four rides on the day coming off a ‘’had excuses’’ effort at Moruya last start.
Another of Goulburn’s resident high achievers Matthew Dale, sponsors a race and has seven runners across the card. Despite drawing wide the progressive Jackpot Star (Nick Heywood) gives Dale a better than average chance of winning his own race whilst Brannum (Pierre Boudvillain) finds a real breakthrough opportunity in Race 2 The Maykazz Embroidery & Printing Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m).
Other riders coming into Monday’s Goulburn card with exposed form in the South East include Louise Day fresh off a winning double at Moruya last Tuesday and Pierre Boudvillain who punched out a win and four runner-up slots at Wagga last weekend.
Monday’s Goulburn meeting is the final lead up to the club’s Goulburn Australia Goulburn Cup program on Sunday 24th August featuring the $200 000 Goulburn Australia Goulburn Cup and almost half a million dollars in prizemoney on the day.
Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 7 for Monday’s card with the opener due to go at 1.05pm
Photo Bradley Photos
