Close up in strong company in the spring, Go Racing’s Lord Penman (NZ) (Contributer) broke through and claimed his first Australian victory in the A$160,000 Racing and Sports Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The New Zealand-bred Contributer gelding ran second on his Sydney debut in August, then filled the runner-up spot behind Linebacker in the A$1 million Silver Eagle (1300m) and finished within four lengths of the undefeated Autumn Glow when seventh in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
Lord Penman was sent out as a $2.40 favourite for his first-up appearance on Saturday in the hands of jockey James McDonald, and he produced a well-timed finish down the outside of the track to edge out Palmetto in a New Zealand-bred quinella.
“Lord Penman made his way back to the winners’ circle with a win at Rosehill today,” Go Racing said on social media. “The four-year-old gelding was fresh up today and given a beautiful ride to hit the line very strongly. Congratulations to trainer Chris Waller and his team, James McDonald for the ride, and to his large ownership group.”
Go Racing’s general manager Matt Allnutt revealed that Lord Penman will be aimed at Group One goals this autumn.
“He looks to have come back very well,” Allnutt said. “He acquitted himself well in Australia in the spring without winning, but he was in races like the Epsom and the Golden Eagle (1500m) and he performed creditably in that company. He’s being aimed at the Doncaster (Gr.1, 1600m) this year and we believe he’s got a good campaign ahead of him.”
A four-time winner in New Zealand for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, Lord Penman has now had 13 starts for five wins, four placings and A$536,664 in stakes. He was bred by Simms Davison and was a $60,000 purchase by Toro Bloodstock from Mapperley Stud’s yearling draft at Karaka in 2023.