 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
The grey son of Nyquist has been given time to develop at his own pace, and now Gosger stands poised to potentially deliver Brendan Walsh his first Preakness Stakes triumph. Following an impressive five-furlong breeze in a sharp 1:00.60 at Keeneland last weekend, working alongside Godolphin's Paris Lily, the decision to target the Preakness has been confirmed.
"He worked really well," Walsh revealed following the workout that was the fastest of 14 at the distance that morning. "We entered him this morning. So, we'll see what way the draw goes. I don't think the draw there has as much emphasis as maybe in the Derby. But all the same, you'd like to have a nice draw around the middle of the field."
This Saturday marks the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. This US$2 million contest is the second jewel of America's Triple Crown. While Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism enters as the likely favourite, Walsh's carefully campaigned Gosger arrives with momentum and untapped potential.
"Earlier in the year, we really liked the horse, and I thought he could possibly be a Derby horse, but we had a couple of delays with him," Walsh explains. "He got sick at one point in Florida over the winter. We had to put back his first race of the year maybe a month later than we had initially planned. And then, between his maiden win and the Lexington, we gave him a little extra time, because I felt he was growing a lot and filling out. "
Those setbacks, while frustrating at the time, may prove fortuitous. Rather than rush Gosger into the Kentucky Derby cauldron, the timing has allowed Walsh to target the Preakness with a fresher, more mature animal.
"From a timing point of view, the Preakness kind of suited him," Walsh notes. "It was going to be too soon to try to go back to the Derby. I don't think he's quite ready for a Derby right now, either. He probably just needs a little more time."
Owned by Harvey Clarke Racing Stables, Gosger has shown steady progression in his brief career. After a debut second at Gulfstream Park in December, he broke his maiden over a mile at the same track in February before taking a significant step forward with victory in the Gr.3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
The Lexington success, where Gosger stalked the pace before powering to a two-length victory, was particularly impressive as it marked his first attempt at the stakes company. It also earned him a spot in the Preakness conversation.
"He should get the distance, no problem," Walsh confirms when discussing the Preakness challenge. "And like in the Lexington the last day, he was doing his best work at the end. So hopefully, he'll be doing it again on Saturday."
As for race tactics, Walsh sees Gosger's adaptability as a key asset. "He is very uncomplicated, and he's got a very good mind. So, you can basically put him wherever you want," he explains. "We'll look at the race beforehand and sum up where everybody's going to be and try to devise a plan from there. But like I said, he's pretty simple, and we'll keep it pretty simple for him, and just try to put him in a good spot from where he can win the race."
What makes Gosger particularly intriguing for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness is his pedigree. As a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of the unraced Tapit mare Gloria S, Gosger is bred for Classic distances.
More significantly, his dam is a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another, suggesting the Preakness trip should be well within his capabilities. Gloria S has already produced a Grade One winner in Harvey's Lil Goil, who captured the 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes.
Walsh knows that he has a colt who is still developing. But it has a significant upside. "He's still got a lot of maturing to do," he says. "He's still a little raw. But I love what I saw at the Lexington. He was a little green, but he beat a couple of really nice horses."
When asked to describe Gosger's personality in three words, Walsh responds succinctly, "Sound minded and athletic." It's a description that could equally apply to the trainer's methodical approach to his craft.
 |  |
For Walsh, success with Gosger would mark another significant milestone in a steady rise through American racing's ranks. Born in Shanagarry, County Cork, in May 1973, Walsh developed a passion for horses from a young age.
After studying at two of Ireland's top equine nurseries – the Irish National Stud and Kildangan Stud – he spent time working in France, Dubai and Chicago before spells as assistant to two expatriate Group/Grade One-winning Irish trainers, Mark Wallace in England and Eddie Kenneally in the US.
Walsh started training in 2011 with just half a dozen horses and a very small budget. His breakthrough came with Cary Street, purchased from a claiming race for just US$10,000 but transformed into a Breeders' Cup winner at Santa Anita in 2014.
Since then, Walsh has steadily built his reputation, with notable success, including Plus Que Parfait's US$1.18 million triumph in the UAE Derby in 2019 and Extravagant Kid's Group One victory in the US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint in 2021.
Central to Walsh's success with Gosger has been the relationship with the colt's owners, who have demonstrated rare patience in modern racing.
"His owners have had horses with me on and off the last seven, eight years," Walsh explains. "Harvey Clark, who is Scott's dad – unfortunately, we lost Harvey a few years ago – he was the one who made the initial contact with me."
The relationship has flourished, built on mutual trust and respect. "They're fantastic owners. They leave it to me; they let you do your job, and I think that's very important because that's what we're paid to do. So they are really nice people. It was great to have Gosger win the Lexington for them. They were all there, and they had a great day."
This partnership has allowed Walsh to make decisions based on the horse's development rather than external pressures. "These people have given me time. They never push these horses. They give me as much time as I need to give them," he emphasises.
"Gosger was down in Florida last year, at Kensman Farm, and I went down and saw him a few times, and really liked him as a yearling," Walsh recalls. "So, we were lucky enough to get him into our barn. We had him last year as a 2YO. He had a couple of little issues, just baby things, that we ended up having to give him time for."
While the Preakness is the immediate target, Walsh remains characteristically measured about future plans, refusing to look too far ahead.
"If he runs well in the Preakness, all of the bigger races would be on the table," he suggests. "I'm not sure about the Belmont yet. We'll see how things go with the Preakness. Obviously, if he were to win the Preakness, you might be tempted to take a shot at the Belmont. They're similar distances now anyway, but we'll see. We'll see how things go on Saturday. And if he's as good a horse as we think he is, then like I said, as the year goes on, all the bigger races will be on the table for him."