Gold Lover Delivers Another Feature Sprint Triumph in Armidale Newmarket

The tough and talented mare Gold Lover added another chapter to her remarkable country racing story on Friday when she stormed home to win the Debortoli Wines Armidale Newmarket Showcase Handicap.

Prepared by Tamworth trainer Holly Williams and ridden by apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, Gold Lover proved too strong for her rivals in the 1000-metre feature, carrying 55kg and finishing ahead of Just In Reach, with Dis Is Heaven third. 

Jumping from barrier nine, the five-year-old daughter of Sooboog out of Layne’s Star showed the speed and toughness that have become her trademark in country sprint races. The victory was the mare’s third career win from 29 starts, taking her earnings past $137,000 and further cementing her reputation as a genuine country sprint specialist. 

For Williams, the win continued a strong period of success for the Tamworth-based stable, which has built a reputation over the past two seasons for consistently producing competitive country sprinters across the Hunter and New England regions. Horses prepared by the stable have regularly featured at meetings across northern New South Wales, with Williams’ hands-on training approach earning growing recognition among owners and regional racing followers.

Gold Lover’s Armidale victory also enhanced her standing as one of the most reliable short-course performers in country racing, adding the Newmarket to her previous feature sprint success in the Quirindi Lightning. Together, the wins have established the mare as one of the leading country sprint mares in the region.

Llewellyn Continues Strong Riding Season

The Newmarket victory also marked another important success for rising apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, who continues to build momentum in the saddle.

The Newcastle-based rider has enjoyed a productive 12 months with 45 wins from 534 rides, giving her a strike rate of around 8 percent during that period. 

Across her career she has now recorded over 100 winners, maintaining a winning percentage in the low-teens and a placing rate above 30 percent, strong figures for a jockey still early in her professional riding career. 

Llewellyn’s progress has been steady since her maiden win at Dubbo in 2024, and she has continued to add to her tally across provincial and country circuits. Her perseverance was highlighted earlier this year when she rode a two-track double at Newcastle’s Broadmeadow meeting, pushing her career win tally beyond 100 victories. 

A Perfect Partnership

The partnership between Williams and Llewellyn proved decisive at Armidale, with the apprentice producing a confident ride to position Gold Lover perfectly before asking for her finishing burst in the straight.

The win reinforced the mare’s reputation as a horse that thrives when the pressure rises in feature country races. With another major sprint already on her résumé, Gold Lover’s latest triumph signals she will remain a key player in the northern New South Wales sprint ranks throughout the remainder of the season.

Written by: Lindy Wharekura
Photo by: Bradley Photos