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72 for Mastercraftsman

3 minute read

Paths Of Glory lands Wyong Gold Cup.

PATHS OF GLORY winning the Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup. Picture: Steve Hart

British-bred gelding Paths Of Glory (6 g ex Pacific Rim by Singspiel) chalked up his first stakes win when he landed the Wyong Gold Cup (Listed, 2100m) on Friday and in the process handed the former Windsor Park shuttler Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer) with his 72nd stakes winner. 

The China Horse Club-raced and Richard and Michael Freedman-trained gelding came out on top of a blanket finish to beat The Lord Mayor (Rock 'N' Pop) by a head with the same distance back to Hush Writer (Rulership) in third. 

Richard Freedman was effusive in his praise for jockey Rachel King, who rode a clean sweep of Listed races on Friday, having ridden Asiago (Medaglia d'Oro) to success in the Mona Lisa Stakes (Listed, 1350m) in the previous race. 

"Rachel's ride was sensational," Freedman told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"I said to Rachel before the race, 'look he's first up for a while over 2100, you're going to have to give him a rest somewhere'.

"She might have taken that a bit literally, he was resting away at the back where he's never raced.

"He is a genuine, genuine stayer. The longer they get, the better he will go."

Purchased by the China Horse Club for €60,000 at the 2016 Goffs Ireland Orby Sale and sent into training with Hugo Palmer, for whom he won four times. 

The gelding is one of two winners out of Prix de Malleret (Gr 2, 2400m) winner Pacific Rim (Singspiel), who is herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Prairie Runner (Arazi), making her a half-sister Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Prairie Star (Peintre Celebre). 

Mastercraftsman shuttled to Windsor Park in New Zealand for four seasons and stood at Coolmore's Irish base for a fee of €25,000 in 2020.