The Goodwood is a Group 1 race held each year at Morphetville Racecourse in Adelaide. Raced over 1200 metres for $500,000 in prizemoney, the Goodwood is an important part of the Adelaide autumn racing carnival. Run at set weights with penalties, the Goodwood has a long history in South Australia that stretches back to 1881.
Special Offer: $400 THE GOODWOOD FREE BET – Sportsbet
The Goodwood was originally a handicap race, only recently becoming a set weights and penalties event in 2007. D.O.D won the inaugural event in 1881, with other early winners including Mostyn in 1894-95, Musket Belle in 1911-12, and Royal Gem in 1946. In more recent times, notable winners of the BTC Cup include Elegant in 2004, Bomber Bill in 2003, Sword in 1996, Euclase in 1992, and Boardwalk Angel in 1989.
In the last few seasons, winners have included Takeover Target in 2009, Velocitea in 2010, Lone Rock in 2011, Black Caviar in 2012, and Platelet in 2013. In 2003, Platelet won the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes over 1200 metres at this track for Australian Thoroughbred Bloodsock before taking out the Goodwood in the same season.
The Goodwood has become the premier sprinting event of the Adelaide autumn racing carnival, always managing to attract a solid field of competitors. Horses may come into this race from the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes or Group 3 DC Mckay Stakes, with second place I Am Invincible in 2009 first winning the DC Mckay Stakes.
The leading trainer in the history of the Goodwood is Walter Hickenbotham, with five wins achieved in 1901, 1902, 1906, 1909, and 1910. South Australian jockey John Letts also managed to win this race five times, in 1961, 1972, 1973, 1977, and 1984. The race record time for The Goodwood was set by Spectrum in 1995, with a time of 1:08.33.
Goodwood 2014 odds comparison
News:
Jamie Kah is not the only apprentice with a golden opportunity to ride in her first Group One race on Saturday with Kayla Nisbet excited, if not a little surprised, to be given a chance on Pago Rock in the Goodwood.
Kah has retained the mount on leading Goodwood contender Sistine Demon while 19-year-old Nisbet will be out to cause an upset when she bids to maintain her perfect record on Pago Rock in the $500,000 sprint at Morphettville.
Nisbet took the opportunity to move from Canberra and join the Victorian-based David Hayes on loan a year ago and she has since transferred her apprenticeship to the Hall Of Fame trainer.
She has ridden in less than a handful of stakes races – all at Listed level – and admitted she was surprised to keep the ride on last-start Caulfield winner Pago Rock.
“I’ve won two from two on him but they were in easier races,” Nisbet said.
“I knew he was heading to the Goodwood after his last win but I didn’t think I would keep the ride on him.
“It was a lovely surprise.”
Pago Rock’s two wins for Nisbet have been in open handicaps in June last year at Flemington and last start at Caulfield.
The horse’s best result in top-level racing was a fourth to Snitzerland in this year’s Lightning Stakes.
A $31 chance in Goodwood betting, Pago Rock has drawn barrier nine.
“Obviously they are going to run along which suits him perfectly. He’s drawn a perfect gate for himself so he can even be a little bit closer,” Nisbet said.
“He’s been competitive in these sort of races so he could run a place. I’m hoping so anyway.”
Eclair Big Bang has been scratched from the Goodwood with first emergency Classy Jack gaining a start.
