Impressive run by Green Gold Rush

GREEN GOLD RUSH broke the bank at odds of 9-1 yesterday, flooring 1-2 favourite BRINKS, who wilted in the stretch run after making a bid at battling leaders POWER RANKING and ALEXA’S LODGE coming off the home turn in the six-and-a-half furlong restricted overnight allowance event.

Racing in eighth off the cracking pace set by POWER, POWER RANKING, FREEDOM STREET, ALEXA’S LODGE, BRINKS, CHAMPION BUBBLER and LUKSOL, GREEN GOLD RUSH motored home along the rail inside the final furlong, proving he was the real deal, franking the form he displayed against grade-one winners ATOMICA and FURTHER AND BEYOND in recent races.

POWER RANKING won the scrap to kick clear a furlong and a half out, quickening from POWER, BRINKS, ALEXA’S LODGE, and FREEDOM STREET being hindered by CHAMPION BUBBLER. However, claiming rider Jawara Steadman got GREEN GOLD RUSH rolling along the rail, improving into fourth a furlong out before collaring CHAMPION BUBBLER and POWER RANKING, who he outbattled inside the final half-furlong.

Beaten by 2021 Jamaica Cup-winner FURTHER AND BEYOND at seven and a half furlongs when last out on June 25, GREEN GOLD RUSH has been a testament of patience after being touted as a hot classic prospect in 2020.

After finishing ninth and last among non-winners of three races in August 2021, GREEN GOLD RUSH was taken out of racing for 18 months, returning February of this season as a $550,000 claimer, taking orders from Dalton Sirjue, who afterwards dropped the Adore The Gold-Princess Lorna gelding to $250,000 claiming for an easy win three weeks later.

Following a fourth-place finish behind OMRON on April 10, GREEN GOLD RUSH made all to beat HECANDANCE by a length in a $550,000 claiming race. What followed was a jaw-dropping performance on Labour Day, a third-place run behind last year’s Jamaica Derby-winner ATOMICA and PERFECT BREW at seven furlongs in overnight-allowance company.

GREEN GOLD RUSH closed a two-timer for Steadman, the brother of classic-winning rider Linton Steadman, who now plies his trade on the Canadian circuit. The younger Steadman earlier booted home Richard Azan’s BABLA in a maiden event for three-year-olds at six furlongs.

Racing continues at the weekend with Saturday-Sunday meetings.