Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Steven Reid’s former top-class pacer Gold Ace hasn’t made the impact he would have liked at stud, but that could change courtesy of promising three-year-old Dressed In Gold.
Bred and raced by Reid, the gelding extended his unbeaten record to two at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night when winning the Betavet Prepare Mobile Pace (2200m).
Dressed in Gold was launched off the gate by driver Peter Ferguson to secure an early lead where he was able to set the pace throughout and his charge was able to hold out his pursuers to win by a length.
Pukekohe-based Reid, who trains in partnership with Simon McMullan, was unable to be on course due to COVID-19 Auckland border measures, but was delighted to watch the win from the comfort of his living room.
“I was rapt with the run,” he said. “I thought he would improve with the run, so going forward, that is really positive.
“He was able to do a little bit early and still get home well, he won pretty easily in the end.”
Reid said Dressed In Gold has taken time to mature but the added bonus of owning the horse is that he has been able to take his time with the horse.
“With COVID-19 lockdowns it probably has played into his hands because it has given him a little bit of time,” Reid said.
“The other thing that has helped a lot is the fact that I own him myself. There is no pressure, so giving him a bit of time has been a big thing.
“He has always had the speed and now he is starting to strengthen up.”
Dressed In Gold is one of 11 winners for his sire Gold Ace in New Zealand and Reid is hoping the gelding will go on with the job and become the pin-up for his sire.
“When Gold Ace first went to stud I had quite a few people get in contact with me and tell me they were quite happy with them (progeny), but nothing has really stepped up,” Reid said.
“To be fair to him (Gold Ace), he probably got a low class of mare, but the way people were going on about them he might have done a bit better job than he has.
“We have got a couple of other ones here. We have got a two-year-old and a yearling. They are pretty nice, so he might repay me yet.”
