Written by Jackson Frantz
Kurt Goldman’s decision to actively pursue the progeny of former stable star Hellbent at the 2021 yearling sales could pay early dividends with the Goulburn-based horseman set to saddle up Negation in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.
Goldman, who trains predominantly for leading owner Alan Cardy, oversaw Hellbent’s first seven starts before the son of I Am Invincible was acquired by Yarraman Park and moved to Darren Weir’s Victorian base.
Kurt Goldman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
He is a firm believer in Hellbent as a sire and would be thrilled to train the young stallion’s maiden winner.
“He (Hellbent) is undoubtedly the best horse I have ever put a saddle on and once his stock was at the sales we wanted to go out and purchase them,” Goldman told TDN AusNZ.
“We kept trying to secure some Hellbents throughout the year and came up short every time; I was looking for pre-Christmas 2-year-olds at the time and she (Negation) was a very neat, compact filly who looked like an early running type.”
“I was looking for pre-Christmas 2-year-olds at the time and she (Negation) was a very neat, compact filly who looked like an early running type.” - Kurt Goldman
Goldman expects Negation (Hellbent) to measure up on debut, saying that her trackwork and a narrow second placing in a Rosehill trial gives him a great deal of confidence leading into the race.
He said Blaike McDougall will be instructed to ride his galloper with a sit.
“I’ve always had this race in the back of my mind, she was eye-catching in that trial at Rosehill, handled the experience well and really put her hand up to go to the races,” Goldman said.
“She’s not a filly I want ridden out of her comfort zone, she was a fraction slow away in the trial and attacked the line.
“So, those tactics will be at the forefront again because I don’t want her to hustle and bustle and learn to over race.”
A canny buy
A $50,000 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase by Goldman via the draft of Grenville Stud, Negation is out of Street Hero (USA) mare Gloray, who herself is a half-sister G3 WA Oaks third placegetter American Joy (Americain {USA}).
Negation as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
G1 VRC Oaks winners Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) feature in this pedigree.
Goldman will also unveil fellow debutant Arts Object in the 2-Year-Old Classic after the daughter of Zoustar showed promise when finishing 2l fourth in a separate 900-metre trial at Rosehill on the same day as Negation.
While Negation is Goldman’s number one seed on Saturday, he expects Arts Object to furnish into the better of the two in time.
“She (Arts Object) is probably coming here for more of an experience but all being equal, and I had to pick who is better now over 1000 metres, I’d say Negation has the upper hand,” Goldman said.
“She (Arts Object) is probably coming here for more of an experience but all being equal, and I had to pick who is better now over 1000 metres, I’d say Negation has the upper hand.” - Kurt Goldman
“However, if we had this conversation in six to 12 months’ time, I think we’re going to be talking about Arts Object because I have a lot of time for her and think she’s a very smart filly in the making.”
Arts Object will head for a spell following Saturday’s race while Negation could plot a path towards the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 15 if she figures prominently in the finish.
“This trip is all about experience for her (Arts Object) before she goes to the paddock for a good think about it and I’m sure she will be a filly who comes back in the autumn and be running in some pretty handy races,” Goldman said.
Arts Object as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $100,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Goldman via the draft of Widden Stud, Arts Object is out of an unraced daughter of American Group 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}).
G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro) and G1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}) hail from this family.
On Songs
Goldman’s stable stalwart Irish Songs (Shamus Award) will make the journey down to Ballarat to take on quality opposition in the $150,000 Tonks Plate.
The ever-consistent 6-year-old has strung three bold showings together this time in having finished fourth in The Kosciuszko and the Goulburn Cup after rounding out the minors behind subsequent Listed MSS Security S. winner Quantico (I Am Invincible) at Rosehill on October 6.
“I like the look of this race for him (Irish Songs) he handles all surfaces and I think he’s been going extremely well, and we probably should’ve beaten Quantico at Rosehill who came out and beat the current favourite of Danny O’Brien’s (It’sourtime) three starts ago, so the form is easy to line up,” Goldman said.
“I like the look of this race (Tonks Plate) for him (Irish Songs) he handles all surfaces and I think he’s been going extremely well.” - Kurt Goldman
“While he hasn’t won in some time now, he’s in peak condition, he’s freshened up, drops back from 1400 metres and if he gets the right breaks down on the minimum, he’s a good top three chance.”
A $140,000 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase by Goldman via the draft of Attunga Stud, Irish Songs is out of Lucky Songs (NZ) (Johar {USA}), who is a half-sister to G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner and G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. runner-up Captain Fantastic (NZ) (Fantastic Light {USA}).
Goldman will be active at next year’s yearling sales and is looking forward to inspecting his multiple Group 3 winner Eckstein’s (I Am Invincible) first foal, a colt by Justify (USA), who has been catalogued as Lot 1 at January’s 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Eckstein when racing | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I haven’t laid eyes on the colt (Justify x Eckstein) since he was born but from all reports, it’s a very nice type and no doubt, we might have to get a few people involved to put our hands up,” Goldman said.
“She (Eckstein) was a great mare for me, we had a lot of fun with her and the owners did very well out of her. She was a very special horse for our stable and we’d like to have more like her come through and put their hands up.”
