Image: Racing Photography.
It seems fitting that the aptly named Mosgold won the Australia Day Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m) at Parkes on Saturday.
The Central West town boasts a rich gold mining history, and on Saturday, it was Goulburn trainer Tash Burleigh mining for a well-deserved win in the feature race of the program.
With Kody Nestor in the saddle, Mosgold ($6) anticipated the start and bounded to the front, and from there, the pair made every post a winner, cruising to a comfortable victory.
It was the sixth career victory for the 6YO Chestnut Sooboog mare, which has now earned connections the best part of $220,000 in prizemoney.
A Highway Handicap winner at Royal Randwick in December of 2023, Mosgold hadn’t won since triumphing in a TAB Federal (1300m) at Canberra in late 2024.
Tested in tougher company in recent starts, the Parkes assignment appeared to be the perfect race for Mosgold, who has returned in good form this preparation.
On a good day’s racing at Parkes, Izzy Neale (14 wins from her past 50) kept up her terrific form, riding a double.
Neale kicked things off, winning on the Kieren Hazelton-trained Deepfield King ($14) in the 1600m Maiden Plate.
A good front-running ride, Neale pushed forward on the Gilgandra galloper, found the front, and pulled away for a 1.47 length win.
Later on the program, Neale teamed up with Brett Robb, winning on Wasted Days ($1.65) in the 1200m Benchmark 62 Handicap.
The well-supported Dubbo galloper was a class above his rivals, powering to a 2.54 length victory.
