Goodwin stable bouncing back following tragic loss

By Jordan Gerrans

Just months after losing his beloved wife Barbara, stalwart Toowoomba trainer Mark Goodwin says a string of recent winners have brought a positive boost to his stable and wider family.

The veteran Darling Downs horseman grabbed a victory at Kumbia on Melbourne Cup day while I'm Nelson broke maiden ranks at Caloundra in the middle of September.

It could have been a trio of recent winners for the Goodwin yard if Spirit Of Nurai got the money at Ipswich on Thursday, but the mare was forced to settle for second in a Class 1 Plate.

“There is nothing better than winning to liven up your footsteps,” Goodwin said on Friday. 

Goodwin’s late wife Barbara had long been sick and battled with kidney problems.

She passed away on the first day of June this year.

Barbara was 77.

On the day before Barbara’s death, Goodwin travelled old stable warrior Warp Speed to Brisbane to compete in Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Eagle Farm during the rich winter carnival. 

The veteran stayer ran a huge race to finish fourth over 2400 metres to Campaldino from the imposing Waterhouse and Bott camp. 

Warp Speed has delivered the Goodwin family some of their most significant wins in recent times, including scoring in town on multiple occasions as well as saluting in the Townsville Cup of 2024. 

While Warp Speed could not add to his eight career victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Barbara kept a close ear to the stable favourite in hospital despite her ill health. 

“I took old Warp Speed to Brisbane the day before she passed away on the Sunday morning,” Goodwin said.

“She listened to the race and that was the last thing she listened to.”

At one point when Mark was hurt following a fall riding trackwork earlier in his training tenure, Barbara took over the licence for training the family's gallopers.

Bugden was Goodwin’s latest winner with the chestnut gelding scoring over 1400 metres on the country circuit at Kumbia on Tuesday.

Bugden is only a recent stable addition after previously being prepared by the in-form stable of William Pugsley at Charleville.

“It was a good win,” Goodwin said of Bugden’s victory in Ratings Band 0- 50 Handicap company. 

“He went out to Mitchell at the start before and he flew to the line, so I thought he would be hard to beat at Kumbia on Tuesday.

“He won well there; he won real good. I was very happy with that.”

It could have been two winners for the week for the yard as stablemate Spirit Of Nurai ran a massive race at Ipswich on Thursday afternoon.

The five-year-old mare is knocking on the door for her second career victory after running second in her last two outings, which have both been at the Bundamba track.

“Her last two runs have been terrific,” the 79-year-old Goodwin said.

“She is not a bad mare, but she has been unlucky in her last two races.

“She was unlucky not to win on both occasions, but she will pick up one soon.”

Following the recent results, Goodwin says he is pleased with how his stable is ticking along and he is looking forward to seeing I'm Nelson back at the races soon.

I'm Nelson won his maiden event in style at Caloundra in the middle of September before stepping up to the feature Toowoomba Guineas at just his third career effort.

The son of Dracarys did not figure in the finish of the Toowoomba Guineas which was run on the same card as the Weetwood and the Toowoomba Cup.

In hindsight, the trainer says it may have been a mistake going to the $100,000 event so soon, but he believes the chestnut will come back a better horse after a freshen up.

“I was confident he could win on his work, his work was good enough to win anywhere,” Goodwin said of I'm Nelson’s win at Caloundra at his second public appearance.

“He won real good. I have a fair opinion of the horse and think he might become a fair horse.

“He was always going to win that race at Caloundra with the way he was travelling.”