Enigmatic gelding Gold Ambition gets a chance to win his first stakes race on Saturday – three years after many thought he would be an elite-level winner.
An impressive last-start win has earned Gold Ambition a chance in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Despite a slow early pace, Gold Ambition came from near last to win a 1600m benchmark race at Doomben and once again showed on his day he has terrific final burst.
However, to say Gold Ambition has had a varied career would be an understatement.
He will be having his 50th career start on Saturday which has produced five wins but much more was expected early in his career.
Originally trained at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker, Gold Ambition showed plenty of promise when he won a two-year-old race on his home track.
He continued to show form as a three-year-old and was third behind top gallopers Le Romain and Press Statement in the 2016 Group One Randwick Guineas.
Gold Ambition then failed in the Group One double of the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.
His form dropped away because of a few issues and his only other win for Baker was at Bathurst before being sent to Michael Costa on the Gold Coast last year.
Baker believed a change of scenery would help Gold Ambition and recommended Costa who had trained previously at Warwick Farm.
Costa has done a good job with Gold Ambition who has won three races and run five minor placings since joining his stables.
But Costa admits the horse can be a test to train at times.
“I said after his last-start win he is a weird horse. He has a mind of his own but you saw what he could do last time when he is switched on,” Costa said.
One thing Costa has confirmed about Gold Ambition is his pet distance range.
“We have tried him at a bit of distance but really around 1600m looks his best. He should be suited on Saturday,” he said.