Linden’s Gold put the finishing touches on a profitable weekend for Ridgeport Farm when he finished like train to win the Swan Draught Hcp (1200m) at Bunbury on Sunday.
He steamed home from last on a gloomy afternoon in the south-west when every other winner raced on the pace or no worse than midfield on a Heavy 9 track.
Linden’s Gold (4g Akeed Mofeed – Gold Denari by Roman Emperor) commenced awkwardly and stewards also reported he settled back from an outside barrier before being angled wide in the straight by Willie Pike to score by more than two lengths from First Law (Dalghar) and Storm Commander (Rommel).
Ridgeport Farm owner Santo Guagliardo bred and sold Linden’s Gold to Hopeland couple Takahide Ikenushi and Paige Kenney through a Magic Millions Digital Sale in March 2022. His dam Gold Denari was a multiple Morphettville winner for Guagliardo and trainer Lloyd Kennewell and her stud career began with a bang when Linden’s Gold completed a hat-trick as a spring 3yo at Northam.
Fortunate Kiss wins the Glasshouse (Trackside Photos)
Ridgeport Farm’s burgeoning bloodstock portfolio had received another black-type addition on Saturday with Fortunate Kiss in the LR Glasshouse Hcp (1400m) on the Sunshine Coast.
Fortunate Kiss (6m Divine Prophet – Kiss Me Goodbye by Savabeel) had been placed at Listed level in the Wangoom Hcp (1400m) at Warrnambool in May and the Eye Liner Stakes (1200m) last time out at Ipswich, nevertheless, she drifted from $19 to $26 before the breakthrough for Guagliardo and Kennewell.
Travelling foreman Ross O’Sullivan said he was surprised the mare was sent out at such big odds. “I thought she was ‘overs’ today. She pulled up well after the Eye Liner and hasn’t missed a beat the whole way here.”
Luke Tarrant was a last-minute replacement for Ron Stewart who had been injured in an earlier event. “My instructions were to find some cover and produce her as late as possible,” he said. “She will only keep improving and if there was another furlong we probably would have won by a furlong!”
Fortunate Kiss was a $150,000 buy for Guagliardo and Kennewell at last year’s Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast. Saturday’s winning purse of $174,000 increased her overall earnings to $625,000 and she will be a welcome addition to Ridgeport’s Waroona nursery in the not too distant future.
The Glasshouse is the latest pedigree update for a family that already has an entry on the Glasshouse roll-call courtesy of the Grahame Begg-trained Dance Beat (Esperanto). Another close relation Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) scored Group 3 victories in the 2020 Triscay Stakes (1200m) and Toy Show Hcp (1100m) at Randwick prior to a very profitable pay-day in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
Ridgeport Farm stands Rommel (Commands) and Ducimus (Snitzel) 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).
