Goldie's Chance, the horse that's giving its 46 owners a thrill
Goldie's Chance has turned out to be an absolute cracker and more success could be coming her way in Saturday's $100,000 ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas.
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work on thoroughbred racing check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page
For most of the owners of Goldie's Chance she is their first racehorse.
Goldie's Chance has turned out to be an absolute cracker and more success could be coming her way in Saturday's $100,000 ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas.
Virtually all of her 46 owners live in Southland. She is trained in Christchurch by Ross Beckett, formerly of Southland.
Goldie's Chance won the $70,000 Gore Guineas at her fifth and most recent start on January 21.
She was bought by principal owner Kylie Davidson, of Riversdale, at the online national weanling sale in June 2020. Davidson subsequently leased her to a syndicate of 46 members, including herself, for racing purposes only.
Davidson, who is an accountant, recalled this week the background to her buying Goldie's Chance.
For many years she wanted to own a racehorse like her parents and grandfather had done. However, she decided to wait while she studied for an accountancy career, got established in it and raised a family.
The time was right in 2020 to invest in a racehorse.
"I didn't know where to start, where I was going to go to find out what I needed to know, so I can make the best decision," Davidson said.
She knew the Dennis brothers, of Woodlands, were successful owner-trainer-breeders but had never met them.
"I've always admired their involvement in the industry."
She contacted the Dennis brothers, Tony Ray, Martin and Joe. They helped her as did Tony's son, Robert.
The national weanling sale was coming up and Robert recommended two lots to Davidson. He arranged for his northern contacts to inspect them and report back.
Goldie's Chance was one of the lots.
"I was able to use a lot of their [Dennis family's] knowledge and experience to pick the right one," Davidson said.
"I bought one. The first one I was bidding on was an Ocean Park filly, she went out of my budget."
Davidson went to $21,000 to secure Goldie's Chance..
Davidson shares the ownership with fellow accountants, farmers, engineers, her cousin who owns a handbag business in Christchurch, Eastern Concrete staff, family members and friends.
"The Gore [Guineas] win was really special, doing it on our home turf," Davidson said.
"We pretty much had the whole syndicate there, only a few people were missing. There was a lot of emotion [after the win], some very tight hugs, happy tears and a lot of laughing.
"I think everyone will remember that [Gore Guineas win] for a very long time."
Robert Dennis manages the syndicate.
"I talk a lot to Robert and [trainer] Ross Beckett," Davidson said.
"It's going to be sad, Robert's moving up to Cambridge ... he's going to be assistant trainer to Andrew Forsman.
"It's an awesome opportunity for him."