Sale, Ladbrokes Sale Cup, $200,000, 1600m
Race Summary:
Veteran Gold Fields (Churchill Downs) has claimed his first black-type victory, proving too tough for his rivals in the Listed Ladbrokes Sale Cup.
Gold Fields has been a staple of Victorian country Cups races for the past few seasons and while he has won races such as the Ballan Cup and Wodonga Cup, he had yet to contest a stakes race in his previous 44 starts.
He handled the step up in class with aplomb, sitting outside the favourite and leader Rox The Castle (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) and quickly putting paid to that horse at the top of the straight.
Both Mandela Effect (Turffontein) and Romancer (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) attempted to close the gap but would only get within 0.75l of Gold Fields on the line as they finished second and third in that order.
It was a third stakes success for Gold Fields' trainer Logan McGill.
Pedigree Notes:
Gold Fields, bred by Kevin Heffernan, becomes the first stakes winner from Gold Delta (Encosta De Lago), who has produced four winners from her five foals to race.
Gold Delta is a half-sister to stakes-winning pair Gold In Dubai (Desert Sun {GB}) and Gold Busker (Oratorio) and five other winners. She recently had a filly by Danerich.
Gold Fields becomes the sixth stakes winner for Churchill Downs.
