THIS EQUINE "CHARACTER" DIDN'T NEED TO FIGHT

Photograph by Bradley Photos

SUNDAY: November 8, 2020: GOHAN is a popular fictional character in the animated TV series Dragon Ball Z, fighting for Earth against evil.

His equine namesake didn’t need those fighting qualities at Goulburn yesterday, instead relying on his speed to give Hawkesbury trainer Mick Attard a 2020-21 season breakthrough.

Attard, who moved from Rockhampton with his wife Sharon just over 12 months ago to be closer to their grandchildren, called on a Central Queensland connection to post his second winner since returning “home”, having started a riding career when apprenticed to Warwick Farm trainer Paul Cave.

He booked jockey Quayde Krogh, who hails from Barcaldine and rode in Central Queensland before completing his apprenticeship with co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott last year.

“Quayde has continued to ride work at Randwick for Gai and Adrian, and comes out to Hawkesbury one morning a week to ride work here,” Attard said today.

“He is a hard worker, and deserves every success which comes his way.”

Gohan ($7.50) was smartly away and after sharing the early lead with another Hawkesbury representative, Philippe and Tara Vigouroux’s Enigami ($5.50), in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m), sped clear in the straight to score by more than two lengths.

Sanctuary Cove ($16) and $3.40 favorite Excitable grabbed the minor placings in the last few strides, relegating Enigami to fourth.

Attard has had a number of placings since setting up shop at Hawkesbury in September last year – and Gohan has been his stable flag-bearer.

The now five-year-old gelding gave his trainer his first NSW victory, in a Class 1 Handicap (950m) at Cowra in November last year, when ridden by Anthony Cavallo.

A son of five-times Melbourne and Brisbane winner Carrara, whose sire Elvstroem beat triple Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva in the 2004 Caulfield Cup, Gohan is a product of the 2017 Capricornia yearling sale at Rockhampton.

Attard’s wife Sharon races Gohan in partnership with Central Queensland horsewoman Christine Matton.

“Christine as well as racehorses, breeds quarter and cutting horses at Stanwell just outside Rockhampton,” Attard said.

“Gohan isn’t the only horse named after characters from Dragon Ball Z that we have trained.

“Master Roshi, Shenron and Bulma were also in our stable.”

. Attard has only a few horses in work at Hawkesbury, and also helps out fellow co-trainers Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard at trackwork and at their farm on afternoons and weekends.

“I don’t think we’re related, but Jason is my favorite nephew,” Attard quipped.