Kurt Goldman Hoping For Eckstein Upset

Kurt Goldman is a great believer in confidence with horses and won’t be surprised to see his star filly Eckstein cause an upset in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Goldman is shaping up for his biggest payday of his seven-year training career with Eckstein who faces the daunting challenge of becoming the first galloper to bring down Bjorn Baker’s unbeaten colt Winning Rupert in the $2 million 1400-metre feature.

Goldman deliberately dodged a clash with Winning Rupert in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm last month following her Listed Mode Plate victory at Eagle Farm.

Eckstein, a $165,000 purchase, is a renowned bad traveller and lost 12 kilograms in weight on the trip to Queensland for the Mode Plate but made a quick recovery after the feature when she put on seven kilograms.

She was back to her normal racing weight when she stretched her winning sequence to four at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

“Her grand final has always been the Magic Million Guineas but I decided not to run her against Winning Rupert in the Vo Rogue and to wait for the Gold Coast race last week,” Goldman said.

“Mares can do strange things and confidence is a big thing with them.

“I didn’t want to risk her losing any confidence by running against Winning Rupert in the Vo Rogue.”

Kurtman started his training career at Kembla Grange before moving to Goulburn three years ago, and will be attempting to claim more Magic Millions prizemoney on his third trip north.

“I’ve had two runners at the Magic Millions in past years,” he said.

“I brought up a mare called Arm’s Length who ran second in the Fillies & Mares race (in 2012) and she came back to run third in the same race two years later.”

Kurtman is excited about Eckstein’s chances against Winning Rupert who collected a $500,000 bonus after completing the three-year-old Summer Crown series in the Vo Rogue Plate.

“Maybe I’m being too optimistic but Bjorn’s (Baker) horse has been really well placed in all his wins,” he said.

“He hasn’t really met any superior opposition and all his wins have been against average horses.

“I think Eckstein has a really good chance and my biggest query is not going to 1400 metres or the back-up but whether she’s still at her top.

“Winning Rupert got a bit worked up in the heat at his last run and it looks like being another hot day tomorrow.

“My filly should get an ideal run from her barrier.”

– Racing Queensland

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