The latest method of finding a winner is proving as quick as it is effective.
If the letters “IRE”, “GB” “FR” or “GER” appear in brackets after a horse’s name it is almost compulsory that they be considered – and backed.
Last Wednesday it was Rugged Cross at Sandown, the previous Saturday Julienas led in an imported trifecta at Rosehill where the former British galloper Foreteller also got the money.
The week before Sharalam got up at his first Australian start at Sandown as did Jet Away at Bendigo the previous Saturday.
Since last spring the list has included the Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, this year’s Cup favourite Puissance De Lune, Le Roi from Germany who has won in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, Glencadam Gold and the multiple Sydney winner Award Season.
Locally-trained imports are again scattered throughout the racecards again on Saturday with Julienas going around again, the Queen’s horse Carlton House makes its Australian debut at Rosehill, Jet Away is favourite to win the Easter Cup at Caulfield and Voila Ici warms up for the Sydney Cup at Rosehill.
And there is one more at Caulfield who could be as good as any of them.
Goldoni, a four-year-old Irish son of Dylan Thomas, has his second start for new trainer David Hayes and the signs are promising.
Before Goldoni’s local debut at Flemington earlier this month, Hayes had one piece of advice. “Learn how to spell his name, he’s a good one.”
Goldoni finished fourth over 1400m behind Centennial Park in a run that justified his trainer’s opinion.
He has his second run at Caulfield on Saturday in the Jack Elliott Handicap (1700m) and Hayes isn’t backing off.
“He’s certainly tightened up since his first run, but it’s still short of his preferred distances,” he said.
“But on the way he finished off the 1400 and from the nice barrier he won’t be as far back this time and he mightn’t have as much work to do.”
Hayes said Goldoni hadn’t been quite as straightforward as his stablemate Jet Away, but both he and the horse were still getting to know each other.
“We’re using these races for him to get fit and to learn about him,” he said.
“But he’s capable of being competitive.”
In a moderate race with a luxury weight, that might be all he needs to be.
