Australia: Trekking nips favored Gytrash in Goodwood Stakes at Morphetville Racecourse

Trekking caught even-money Gytrash in the final stride to record a mild upset in Saturday’s Group 1 Goodwood Stakes at six furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia.

Trekking, who paid $16.60 in American pools, won by a nose over Gytrash, who was 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Lyre, a 3-year-old Southern Hemisphere filly who was facing older male rivals.

Gytrash, the winner of the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in November, led early in the stretch.

Trekking and Lyre are owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

A winner of 10 of 28 starts, Trekking, a 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding by Street Cry, ended a five-race losing streak, since winning the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse last October. A week after that race, Trekking was third in the $8.8 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse, a race that could be on his schedule again this year.

Trekking, trained by James Cummings, was ridden in the Goodwood by jockey John Allen, who won the Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville earlier this month on Russian Camelot. Allen is based in the Australian state of Victoria, but relocated to the state of South Australia for the big May races. Allen underwent a two-week quarantine because of the coronavirus outbreak before he was allowed to ride.

Trekking could reappear in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at seven furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on June 6.