The Barneswood Brady Nakhle Slot Holder partnership has announced the Stephen Marsh-trained Penman (NZ) as their representative in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and they are hoping they have struck gold with their selection.

“It sort of feels like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket. Everyone is looking for that chocolate bar with the golden ticket in it and we are hoping we have got the chocolates,” Slot Holder representative Daniel Nakhle said.

The partnership is comprised of a group of close racing friends, and with their representative locked in, they can’t wait to watch the action unfold in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race at Ellerslie on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day, 8 March.

“Sarah, Chris (Green) and Ger (Beemsterboer) from Barneswood Farm, they are fantastic friends,” Nakhle said. “We met them through Peter and Dawn Williams (trainers), and we have been fast friends ever since. 

“Darren Brady is one of my best friends, we met through a horse as well, so it is funny how this horse game brings people together. He and his brother Brian have got a share. 

“It is a great bunch of really cool people that understand the ups and downs of the racing and breeding game, and because of their understanding we tend to celebrate a reasonable amount when things go our way.”

Nakhle is excited about the prospects of Penman in the NZB Kiwi, and said his impressive last start victory at Tauranga sealed their decision. 

“He is a horse that is on the up,” Nakhle said. “The whole team put our heads together and we haven’t really gotten serious about many, and certainly hadn’t pushed the panic button at all, even with the race three weeks away. 

“He really impressed us in the last 100m of his races, the way he stretches out. I had a talk with Stephen Marsh at the races at Te Aroha last Wednesday and he is a guy whose judgment I really rate, and he certainly rates the horse very highly.

“He had some good form around him (in his last start win) and the fact that his stablemate behind him (Tardelli) was stakes placed, and the third horse (Domain Ace) is in the NZB Kiwi as well, it starts looking like really tidy form for a rating 65 win.”

Nakhle is looking forward to partnering with both Marsh and Go Racing, who race the son of Contributer in partnership with Toro Bloodstock.

“One of the great things about Penman is the ownership and training team. They are a great bunch of people to be racing one with,” Nakhle said.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has now doubled down on his assault on the NZB Kiwi, with stablemate Ardalio having already been secured by The King’s Men Slot Holder syndicate. 

“It is very exciting to have our second runner for the slot race,” Marsh said. “We think he (Penman) is very talented. He is one of those horses on the rise.”

“It is a very exciting race, it has got everyone talking and pumped up about it. The whole day is starting to build excitement.”

Marsh is particularly pleased for New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, who have been great supporters of his stable, and missed out on securing a slot at the auction last year.

“I think they may have had a couple of cracks at a slot but didn’t manage to get one, so this is good now that we have got a horse in it,” Marsh said.

Penman will get his first look at Ellerslie when he lines up at the track this weekend, his last engagement prior to next month’s NZB Kiwi.

“He will run on Saturday at Ellerslie and then into the slot,” Marsh said. “He is a very progressive horse and is one of those horses that keeps on improving. 

“Matt Cartwright came and galloped him on Friday, and he was super. I think he is right on the way up.”

Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Penman was offered through his farm’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) National Yearling Sales Series Book 1 draft where he was purchased by Toro Bloodstock for $60,000.

He was then offered through Riversley Park’s NZB Ready to Run Sale draft later that year, with a majority share subsequently purchased by Go Racing.

He has now won two and finished runner-up in two of his four starts to date, accruing more than $40,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk