Tommy Shooting For Gold At Randwick

A will to win is usually a boon for a racehorse but at times Tommy Gold‘s competitive nature has been his undoing.

Jockey Hugh Bowman has no doubt the colt has the ability to win Saturday’s Group Three Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick if he can harness his energy.

“He trialled amazingly at Randwick the other week,” Bowman said.

“I would just like to see him come and behave, relax and do everything right. He’s a very competitive individual.

“He’s a cracking type. Everything about him says class but that competitive nature he has, if he can just harness that energy, the world is his oyster.”

Trained by John O’Shea, Tommy Gold has won one of his six starts but has twice been placed in Listed grade, including when runner-up to The Bopper in the Brian Crowley Stakes last spring.

He will meet a classy field of rivals on Saturday, headed by Bondi Stakes winner Peltzer, Golden Rose placegetter North Pacific and Prague, who makes his debut for new trainer Annabel Neasham.

“If we can get him to relax he’s certainly going to be up to the better class horses,” Bowman said.

“It’s just important he does everything right for us and John has given him every opportunity for that to happen.”

The Team Hawkes-trained North Pacific has opened favourite at $2.60 to kick off his campaign with a win, with Tommy Gold a $10 chance.

Hawkes Racing will also saddle up the favourite in the Inglis Sprint (1200m) with Ole Kirk set to resume in the $1 million race after bypassing the Expressway Stakes last weekend due to a wet track.