Goma going places

Gore harness racing trainer Tony Stratford thinks first starter Goma Dale (Auckland Reactor) is a horse that could go through the grades. 

The four year old in the hands of Blair Orange, led and won impressively by two and a quarter lengths at the Winton meeting today. 

“He’s a lovely horse. We’ve had him for twelve to eighteen months at home. He won a few workouts in his last prep, and we tipped him out because he was a bit on the weak side and his gait wasn’t a 100%. It’s still not. Today he paced good so we might be winning the battle there. He’s a lovely kind horse with an engine,” Stratford said. 

Goma Dale was bred and is owned by Bill Keeler and is out of Love Filly Dale (Gotta Go Cullect). She won her first two races for Ascot Park trainer Murray Brown. 

“The ones that win races from Bill’s breed normally go places and end up being pretty nice horses. And I’d say this guy’s in that boat.” 

Keeler ran a successful breeding establishment at Makarewa for years and he held a training licence before moving to Central Otago. 

“He does the jogging work at Millers Flat and then sends them our way.” 

Stratford was confident of a good first up run from Goma Dale after he qualified well at the end of last month. 

“He ran a 56 half the day he qualified so for a big boy there’s plenty of speed there.” 

GOMA DALE REPLAY

He says the horse will continue to race in the Southern region although there has been some buyer interest in him. 

“We’ll let the dust settle and we’ll kick on because there’s still six or seven meetings down here.” 

The win was one of two for Stratford who also won later in the day with Sweet Southern Lass, (Sweet Lou) also handled by Orange. 

Canterbury trainer Mark Jones and stable driver Sam Ottley also scored a double with James Cagney (Art Major) and Eyre I Will (What The Hill). Both were hot favourites. 

For complete race results, click here

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink