2015 Italian Derby winner Goldstream has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and will be set for the 2015 Cox Plate during his maiden campaign in Australia.
Australian Bloodstock are hopeful that Goldstream can replicate the feat of Adelaide and win the Cox Plate as a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Goldstream made his racing debut under the care of Stefano Botti in Italy with three straight victories and he stamped himself as a horse to watch by taking out the Listed Premio Botticelli at Capannelle on April 26 before he recorded a dominant three lengths victory over Sound Of Freedom and Time Chant in the Group 2 Italian Derby (2200m) at the same venue on May 17.
Australian Bloodstock Director Jamie Lovett admits that the form coming out of Italy can be tough to stack up against other parts of Europe, but he told Racing Ahead that he is hopeful that the Martino Alonso colt can do enough to earn an invitation into the 2015 Cox Plate field under the care of Melbourne Cup winning trainer Andreas Wohler.
“The Italian form is a little bit left-field so we just need to put him in the eyes of the decision-makers and show that he’s a serious horse,” Lovett said.
“We think he’s an ideal Cox Plate horse.
“Obviously as a northern-hemisphere-bred three-year-old, similarly to Adelaide last year, he’ll be at a disadvantage at the weights but we think he’s the right horse.
“We’re very excited by him.
“He couldn’t have been more impressive in the Italian Derby and that form has now franked itself several times in both France and Germany.
“Andreas is keen to campaign the horse in France and we just want to find some nice races to lift his profile to gain an invitation into the Cox Plate.”
Goldstream will likely be set for the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (2000m) in Munich at the end of the month and could have another race start in France before he makes the trip to Australia to begin preparations for the Cox Plate.
Goldstream is currently available at 2015 Cox Plate odds of $21 with Ladbrokes and is on the 13th line of betting behind unlikely starter Able Friend ($7), Godolphin star Contributer ($8), triple Group 1 Criterion ($9), Doomben Cup winner Pornichet ($10), Chris Waller-trained Kermadec ($13), Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom ($13), Golden Slipper winner Vancouver ($13), Tony McEvoy-trained Alpine Eagle ($15), last year’s runner-up Fawkner ($15), talented stayer Hartnell ($15), imported German stayer Our Ivanhowe ($15) and OTI-owned Gailo Chop ($17).
