Bring on the Gold Crown carnival

TYRO trainer James McPherson is looking forward to the Bathurst Gold Crown carnival with Wagga debut winner, Stravinsky.

The colt came from a starting position on the second row last Friday to post a dream first-up result and will now work towards the Gold Crown heats in a couple of weeks.

McPherson and his father Scott race Stravinsky, who is an eye-catching youngster by Sunshine Beach.

“A lot of work has gone into him and it’s good to get a win first off,” McPherson said.

“He has always had a good attitude and has shown ability from the start.

“He was a bit stirred up before the race so he should take improvement from the run and the experience.”

Stravinsky will contest a heat of the Gold Crown on March 20 and McPherson hopes he can progress to the final.

The young reinsman is driving his share of winners and after opening the meeting with Stravinsky was also in charge in the last race when Miss Fandango made it three straight victories at Wagga.

The mare had won just once from 44 starts, but has produced a hat-trick of wins at Wagga in the space of 17 days.

Meanwhile, it will take something special to better the first-up win by Gold Starzzz and trainer-driver Matthew Harris for the comeback run of the year.

Gold Starzzz last raced on January 20, 2018, and more than two years later had his first run back without a trial for a runaway win.

Taking his record to five wins from seven starts, Gold Starzzz powered home to justify the patience of his connections.

“He has been in work for nine months and had done a bit of swimming recently. I thought he was fit enough to compete well and hoped his class would carry him through,”Harris said.

“He went sore and was turned out then came back and did a tendon after winning a couple.

“He is a big heavy horse, who will eat everything, so it has been a long road back.

“He is a fairly special horse to us, really professional to train and highly intelligent.

“How far he can go I don’t know.

“It will depend on his legs from here on.”

Harris races the winner with his father Jim and said it was satisfying to win first-up after so many months off.

“It’s a shame he isn’t sound because you would know where you can go,” Harris said.

“It’s just race by race, but it was good to get that first-up win.”

• GRAEME WHITE