What History Says – Retravision Golden Nugget
13 December, 2018
Harness
The four-year-old season reaches a flashpoint on Friday night at Gloucester Park, with the running of the $250,000 Retravision-Golden Nugget (2536m).
First run in 1981, the Golden Nugget honour roll features some of the star pacers of recent times including Soho Tribeca, Beaudiene Boaz, Im Victorious, Saab, Sinbad Bay, Westburn Grant and Ultimate Machete in 2017.
Many winners of the Retravision-Golden Nugget have gone on to play a prominent part in Grand Circuit races in future seasons, highlighted by the 2016 Golden Nugget quinella Soho Tribeca and Chicago Bull going on to run in the top 3 in the WA Pacing Cup.
Ana Malak is a short-price favourite to take out the feature event tomorrow night and, like he did in the 4YO Classic a fortnight ago, will be looking to deliver trainers Greg and Skye Bond and reinsman their first success in the Group 1 feature.
Ana Malak will also be looking to become the 10th horse to complete the 4YO Classic-Golden Nugget double.
The most recent horse to complete the double was Ultimate Machete last year.
Gary Hall Snr and Gary Hall Jnr have twice enjoyed success in the Group 1 event, teaming up with The Gold Ace (2010) and Beaudiene Boaz (2015).
Another father-son combination Mark and Mike Reed also are engaged in tomorrow night’s feature, a race they enjoyed success in back in 2014 with Libertybelle Midfrew.
Chris Lewis will be looking for his fifth success in the Golden Nugget when he teams up with Bettor Aim from the Bond stable.
Lewis won the race previously with Vero Prince (1987), Flashing Star (1994), Saab (1998) and Dasher VC (2010).
The Golden Nugget gets underway at 7.40pm on Friday.
Tim Walker