Hailing from the same family as two Oaks winners, it is little surprise Go Gazza has begun to find form since being stepped up in journey.
Bought by Mark Minervini for $45,000 at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions sale just months prior to the trainer’s relocation from South Australia to Newcastle, Go Gazza has scored back-to-back wins at his past two starts over a mile at Wyong.
The four-year-old comes from a strong staying family with his dam Content a half-sister to 2007 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss, who in turn is the dam of 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound.
Mark Minervini says Go Gazza has taken time to mature but is finally starting to hit his straps.
“He’s closely related to two Oaks winners, Arapaho Miss and Miami Bound,” Minervini said.
“That family, they all get over a little bit of ground so we’re hoping ‘Gaz’ is the same. We did a DNA test on him about 12 months ago and that told us he will run 2000 to 2400, so what he’s done so far has been a bit of a bonus.”
While stretching out in distance has been a key factor in Go Gazza’s form surge, a gear change has also proven crucial.
“We put the blinkers on him heading into Kembla Grange and he ran second and obviously he’s won his next two. I think the blinkers have been significant as well with him,” Minervini said.
Go Gazza will line up in Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1800m) at Randwick and is an $8.50 chance to continue his winning sequence.
Gary Portelli has Picaro in the field and has put blinkers back on the gelding in the hope it will spark him into gear.
Portelli also has third emergency Squanto and is keen for the last-start Kembla Grange winner to gain a start.
“He’s very consistent and his last win was very good at Kembla Grange. He is probably the better chance of the two, based on the fact he is a little bit more genuine,” Portelli said.
