Large impost no concern for synthetic specialist
Joshua Smith • June 5th, 2025 12:54 PM • 3 min read
Synthetic track specialist Lhasa was lumbered with 65kg for Wednesday’s TAB 1300 at Cambridge, and while apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram’s claim took three kilograms off his back, he still faced an ominous task.
However, punters kept their faith in the gelding, who had won five of his previous eight starts on the surface, backing him into $1.80 favouritism.
In inclement conditions, Goyaram took his charge straight to the front where the son of Hellbent raced like he was carrying a featherweight and cantered in to score by 3-1/4 lengths.
Owner-trainer Mark Treweek was wary of the large impost and torrential rain prior to the race but was pleased with the ease of the victory.
“We didn’t know whether to run him or not because I am guessing he will get another four points and more weight next time around if we want to go again (on the synthetic),” Treweek said.
“We were a bit worried about the weather with all of the weight, but the track can handle it. Everywhere else was flooding, and there was a bit of water in the foot holes on the track, but from about the third to last race it (rain) eased off a little bit and by his race the surface water wasn’t quite as bad on the track, so they still were able to get over it alright. It has all panned out well in the end.”
Initially purchased as a pinhook proposition as a weanling for A$85,000 on the Gold Coast, Treweek was forced to retain the now five-year-old, which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, with Lhasa having now won seven of his 27 starts, and earned more than $150,000 in prizemoney.
“We pinhooked him during COVID. Jonathan Scully bought him for us on the phone on the Gold Coast,” Treweek said. “We left him there to sell (as a yearling), but he go chondritis really bad when he turned up at the sale, so he couldn’t go through and we had to bring him home.
“He won a couple of trials and was looking quite good but when he got scoped by the vets they said he had too much scar tissue in his throat, and he wouldn’t pass to go into Hong Kong.
“We have had no option but to carry on and race him. He is still a grade one when he breathes, but he has got a lot of scar tissue that was causing them some concern and they can’t believe he can breathe as well as he does. It has worked out well for us.”
Treweek is now weighing up between targeting the $100,000 Polytrack Championship with his charge or sending him for a spell in preparation for summer grass targets.
“We have always had the $100,000 race in the back of our mind, but it just depends on what weight he gets, so he may get turned out,” Treweek said. “He has had a pretty big season, and he has done well on the grass.
“We have got to think about next season a little bit as well. He needs a firm track and goes well at Trentham. It would be nice to think we might be able to get a nice race with him next season if we can plan it out properly.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
