Linden’s Gold is back in winning form for trainer Takahide Ikenushi and his partner Paige Kenney after completing a running double at Bunbury on Saturday.
The Ridgeport Farm-bred sprinter won again at the south-west track in the Nixon Electrical Hcp (1400m) and stable rep Ron Kenney put the improvement down to a combination of factors with Willie Pike’s ride being paramount.
Pike settled Linden’s Gold (Photo / Western Racepix) well back in the three-wide line with cover before circling the big field on the home turn. Making a bee-line for the outside rail where the bias was a distinct advantage, he kept lifting the gelding in the blue colours to a narrow victory over On Patrol (War Chant).
“Willie is an absolute freak,” Kenney declared. “He’s worth two or three lengths out there and is an outstanding jockey. Credit also to Ike and the team at home who do a wonderful job.
“And thanks to our farrier Keaton (Barnes-Roberts) for looking after his feet. He’s had issues and the plan was to have him ready for the softer tracks.”
Linden’s Gold (4g Akeed Mofeed – Gold Denari by Roman Emperor) completed a hat-trick as a spring 3yo at Northam and his back-to-back wins coincide with the removal of blinkers and the addition of a Nasal Strip.
“Ike’s got him going well and he likes these conditions,” Pike said. “He can be headstrong but we drew an outside barrier and that’s where the race took me. He enjoys doing things the tough way but you have to go with him or it doesn’t turn out well.”
Ridgeport Farm owner Santo Guagliardo bred him using G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) winner Akeed Mofeed (Dubawi) over Gold Denari who was a multiple Morphettville winner for Guagliardo and trainer Lloyd Kennewell. He was a steal when purchased by Ike Racing for $1,500 a Magic Millions Online Sale in March 2022.
Gold Denari descends from La Caissiere (Luskin Star) who was a Group 2 winner in Sydney (AJC Flight Stakes) and Melbourne (VRC Wakeful Stakes) in 1983. The Neville Begg-trained filly later foaled Dashing Eagle (Danehill) to Group 1 victories in Sydney (AJC Flight Stakes) and Melbourne (VATC One Thousand Guineas) in 1996.
Linden’s Gold complements a remarkable run for Ridgeport Farm this month that started with Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) winning the LR Glasshouse Hcp (1400m) on the Sunshine Coast.
Resident stallion Rommel (Commands) had sired a half-dozen winners in June and he followed up with the Ridgeport-bred winners Noble Connection (Pinjarra) and Twisted Steel (Bunbury) earlier this month. Twisted Steel put more than three lengths on Paint It Red (Winning Rupert) that day and the runner-up franked the form with a top-notch breakthrough back at Bunbury on Saturday.
Guagliardo also doubled up with Rommel’s homebred mare Desert Dancing at Northam. She joined Twisted Steel as a TBWA Winner Of The Week on July 2 and won again in the Avon Valley on Wednesday.
Desert Whisper (Rommel) was bred and sold by Ridgeport Holdings for $34,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and she has banked over $350,000 for a Belhus Racing syndicate. She just missed a Bunbury hat-trick on Saturday when run down by Madhi Girl (Winning Rupert) in the Volkswagen Hcp (1000m).
Neville Parnham trained Rommel to a Group 3 victory in the 2014 WA Guineas (1600m) and he unveiled another potential star in Ridgeport’s blue & green diagonal-striped silks when Zourun Run sprouted wings to win at Northam on Wednesday.
Zourun Run (2f Zoustar – Run All Night by Charge Forward) went out a $2.35 favourite when facing the starter for the second time and won pulling up in the Swan Draught Hcp (1100m). Guagliardo bought her as a foal from Vinery Stud for $220,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Zourun Run is bred to go early with a precocious pedigree of juvenile black-type winners the calibre of Catnipped (G2 VRC Maribyrnong Plate), Bella Rosa (G3 VRC Ottawa Stakes) and Prom Queen (G3 NZ Northland Breeders Stakes).
Rommel (Commands) stands with Ducimus (Snitzel) at Ridgeport Farm and they’re available at $5,500 (inc GST) service fees. For bookings or further information call Marge Ojapold (0497 478 231), Grant Burns (0410 683 470), Steve Hoare (0409 987 970).
