A four-horse field has thrown up a minor upset at Geelong on Thursday, as the $6.50 outsider, Mark Walker’s well-bred colt Golden Pulse, saluted smartly on debut in the 1147-metre two-year-old maiden.
The Yulong-owned son of Tivaci was the only colt in the field and the least favoured of the quartet, but travelled into contention strongly under Beau Mertens and finished far too well for Eternal Joy ($2.90) and Got Tickets ($3.20).
Though Golden Pulse hadn’t been a standout in his jumpouts, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson felt that was far more to do with his coltish manners than anything else.
“He’s always sort of been asked a bit in his jumpouts and just had a think about it,” he said. “He is a colt; he was having a real think about the fillies out the back and in the parade ring, which probably put a fair few people off.
“Beau just gave him a really nice educational (run) in behind the speed. One of the horses had a run and Hayes’ are always well-drilled, so for him to put them away, it’s promising.”
The two-year-old joins Melody Belle’s daughter Lyrics ‘N’ Song, now Stakes-placed after last week’s Listed Twilight Glow at Caulfield, as Walker’s only other Australian Yulong runner – both already winners.
Golden Pulse is himself a half-brother to Super Seth filly La Dorada, who won the Group 1 NZ Sires’ Produce Stakes in the Te Akau colours at Trentham earlier this year.
And if he continues to behave himself off the track, Gleeson is hopeful he can keep impressing on the track and keep his manhood as well.
“Thrilled to get another winner for Yulong, that’s our second runner for them for a second winner,” he said. “He’s got a good brain in terms of out on the track, it’s just whether he can keep it together off the track. But I’m sure that (win) is going to really help him grow up and furnish.”