Golden Sunset can rise through pack in Group 3 feature

By Josh Spasaro

Golden Sunset can flash home late to win, or be competitive as a front-runner.

And with 24 wins from 108 starts, the 10-year-old mare certainly does not lack toughness.

“She just keeps fronting up. She’s very sound and durable. She’s like the perfect horse, really,” Tamborine-based trainer Shawn Grimsey said.

This is why she is the $1.85 favourite for the Group 3 Trotting Feature over 2138 metres at Albion Park as part of Be Good Johnny Sprint Night this Saturday.

Drawing gate three inside fellow in-form opponent Keayang Stuka should also assist her, according to Grimsey.

“It looks like she’ll get her chance. She’s drawn inside Keayang Stuka, which was the main thing,” he said.

“So hopefully we can get across to the fence and keep him out, and then I think her chances increase a lot.”

To be driven by Nathan Dawson in the $31,378 feature, Golden Sunset has had some thrilling battles against 2024 Inter Dominion third placegetter Keayang Stuka in her past two starts.

Two starts back over 1660 metres on October 3, she took the lead at the turn for home and prevailed by 1.8 metres.

Last start, Keayang Stuka reversed the result over 2138 metres on October 31, but Golden Sunset showed courage to hang on for second place after expending a lot of energy on the back straight.

“She was super. We got away with sitting outside him when he was first-up over the mile. But he would’ve improved on that run, so we didn’t expect to sit outside him the second time,” Grimsey said.

“It would’ve been a great bonus if we did, but we didn’t.

“Keayang Stuka is a quality trotter – he ran third in an Inter Dominion. So if you’re racing competitively with him, you’re going really well.”

And when first-up three starts back, the Skyvalley and Golden Wahine pacer displayed an impressive turn of foot to flash home also over 2138 metres, saluting by a nose after she was last at the home turn on September 26.

“She’s not a one-trick pony. If you’re back in the field a bit, then the racing becomes tempo-related,” Grimsey said.

“That night nothing really went her way, but she still managed to round them up.

“First-up, she was awesome.”

Grimsey has enjoyed plenty of success with Golden Sunset since he added her to his stables two years ago.

She has progressed through the grades and saluted on 17 occasions for him at Albion Park.

“Jason Grimson bought her from Victoria. He didn’t have much luck with her and only gave her a couple of starts in Sydney,” Grimsey said.

“Then he rang me up one day and asked if I wanted a horse.

“I’d like to say I knew (the secret to her consistent form). We just found a way and did what we do.

“We don’t keep anyone in the stable next to her. That’s about the only real trick with her.

“We’ve changed what we do with her a couple of times and she’s never gone backwards.”

Meanwhile, Grimsey will have six-year-old Dashing starting from gate 11 in the feature Be Good Johnny Sprint over 1660 metres at Albion Park on Saturday night.

The Art Major and Frith gelding is also racing well, with his last win over 2138 metres on September 19.

“We always look forward to racing Dashing. He’ll be competitive. The draw is tough, but bar Leap To Fame he can go with all the other Open-level horses up here,” Grimsey said.

“He’s drawn awful. It looks like Attachment will find the front and he’ll take some beating.

“So if he can get himself into the top five, he’ll go really well. He’s a good horse.”