Dubai Bound Gold Fields Makes it a Finale to Remember for Stephen Baster

Mark Smith - Saturday November 16

Last start Sale Cup winner Gold Fields gave popular jockey Stephen Baster a fitting finale to his riding career when battling on bravely to nose out Mr Exclusive in Saturday’s $160,000 Group III Ladbrokes Sandown Stakes at Sandown.

Under hard riding by Baster, Gold Field defeated Mr Exclusive (Magnus) by a short half-head with one and a quarter lengths to Travimyfriend (Tavistock) in third place.

Gold Fields is trained by Baster’s good friend Logan McGill who, like Baster was apprenticed to Mark Riley.

Due to begin a career in real estate, Baster said he will miss the comradery in the jockey’s room.

"This is a bit of a fairytale, even if I didn't win on him today he was going to be my last winner because I won the Sale Cup on him and haven't had a winner since,” Baster said.

Logan McGill said he was worried in the run.

“He got caught flat-footed when they sprinted but he was strong through the line, it was a fantastic result,” McGill said.

“He has been asked to go to Dubai so we will concentrate on that now as he has to leave in eight weeks.

The 7yo son of Churchill Downs advances his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 5 thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $563,154.

Bred by the Heffernan family, Gold Fields was consigned by Blue Gum Farm to the 2014 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to Glenhuntly Lodge for $42,000.

He is the best of four winners from five to race out of the Encosta de Lago mare Gold Delta who is a half-sister to the Listed MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes and Listed Ipswich Cup winner Gold In Dubai (Desert Sun) and the Listed TTC Gold Sovereign Stakes winner Gold Busker (Oratorio).

Gold Delta had not had a live foal in four years after Gold Fields before foaling a Danerich filly in October last year.

Gold Fields is one of six winners for former Blue Gum resident Churchill Downs (Danehill) who was exported to Libya in 2012.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Sandown Stakes Gr3 1500m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:30.29
1
Gold Fields
- 7g Churchill Downs (AUS) x Gold Delta (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Logan McGill Rdr: S Baster 55.5
2
0.1
Mr Exclusive
- 4g Magnus (AUS) x Purple Butterfly (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
Magnus
3
1.4
Travimyfriend
- 7g Tavistock (NZ) x Pineau (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: Ms R Frost Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
1.8
William Thomas
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x Girls Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Price Rdr: D Yendall 54
5
2.2
Vassilator
- 4g Zacinto (GB) x Highlights (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C W Little Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
6
3.0
Widgee Turf
- 6g Turffontein (AUS) x Greyhound (AUS) (Kala Dancer (GB))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 59
7
3.2
Music Bay
- 4m Choisir (AUS) x Illicitly (AUS) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Craig Williams 54
More Reading...
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.