It has been a good run for Ridgeview Park's Golden Snake of late, the regally bred multiple Group One winner represented by a number of up-and-comers including Lucente, Blue Viper and Vanilla Gold.
An odds-on favourite at Ararat last Thursday, the Mitchell Freedman trained Vanilla Gold was having just her fourth start and she could not have been more impressive stepping up to 2000m for the first time.
Swamping her rivals from back in the field, the three-year-old stamped herself as a horse to follow and Freedman is looking forward to testing her at metropolitan level.
"It is a shame she wasn't up and going earlier," he said, noting that the South Australian Oaks would've suited the chestnut.
"She has proven that she has a great liking for staying trips and we look for a race in town for her now."
Blue Viper meanwhile was able to record the second success from seven starts when doing a great job under the considerable steadier of 61.5kg.
Despite carrying 6.5kg more than the runner-up, Blue Viper was strong to the line third up over 1700m and he too looks ready to progress the further he gets over.
Another Golden Snake with a bright future is the flying Lucente who was brilliant leading throughout at Pakenham on Tuesday, showing great speed from the onset and never looking in any danger of defeat.
It was Lucente's third victory from just nine starts and Michael Walker has been aboard for each of them.
"He is a green horse who is just getting better and better," Walker enthused.
"Every time I ride him he rises the bar a bit more... if he was a person I'd go to war with him as he will fight for you all day!"
"He can run along recording nice sectionals and just keep going."
Trainer Monica Croston was confident that Lucente would shine over the 1600m of Tuesday's contest and, like Walker, feels the best is still to come for the lightly raced gelding... "he is a horse who will get places," she said.
Lucente, Vanilla Gold and Blue Viper are
raced by their breeders, proving that Golden Snake is the ideal owner/breeder
horse - a proven stallion whose runners earn an average of over $42,000 each.
"I love seeing our client's home-breds win," LP Stallions' Julie Nairn said. "There is no better feeling than seeing the fruits of your labour do you proud."
The sire of local stakes winners Gilded Venom (Gr.1 winning WA Horse Of The Year), Hissing Sid, Antidotes and Vipera Gold, Golden Snake (who boasts progeny earnings in excess of $10 million) has also been represented by the Italian Gr.1 winner Quiza Quiza Quiza and the two times Singapore Gr.3 winner Super Gold.
"Golden Snake is a reliable stallion who sires sound, tough, genuine runners," said Nairn who has raced several Golden Snakes herself with success - "I just love them!
Other Golden Snakes in recent winning form include Aagas (a metropolitan level winner over 2400m), Strikes Twice, Snake Farley (a home-bred for Ian Bell's Campolina) and Hissing Sid's promising brother Dusty Mamba.
For further information on Golden Snake – who stands this spring at a fee of $3300 (incl gst, free return - payment terms available on request) contact LP Stallions' Julie Nairn (0402 901 910) or Ridgeview's Phil Sloane (0488 525 063).
