Sunset paving a golden path

Continuing a purple patch of form in 2025, the latest win by Golden Sunset has established a new benchmark of speed for the square gait at The Creek.

Slicing 0.8 seconds off the previous track record held by Is That A Bid, Golden Sunset became the first trotter to break the 1.54 barrier at Albion Park when trotting the 1660 metre trip in 1.53.7.

“We were very excited that she could do that,” trainer Shawn Grimsey told Chris Barsby on Mobile Rolling.

It was the opening quarter that set the foundation for the record, with Pete McMullen sending Top Of The Moment forward early in a sharp 27.7 first split before releasing Golden Sunset when Nathan Dawson sent her around.

“When Pete got Top Of The Moment away quick, it set it up pretty good with a good first quarter and Nathan thought he’d give it a crack from there,” Grimsey said.

With that opening quarter of 27.7, Dawson kept the mare rolling once he worked to the front and with a 29.5 second stanza, all eyes were on the clock, the 57.2 opening half putting the mare well under track record tempo.

Watching from the stands, the early speed left Grimsey confident how the race had been run to that point, the record was in danger.

“I actually said if she wins, she will break the track record.”

A 28.4 third panel meant the record was now a distinct possibility and Dawson never backed off, with Golden Sunset responding through a strong closing quarter of 28.1 to establish the new rate of 1.53.7.

“She just seems to get better every start.

“She looked awesome and raced accordingly,” the trainer said.

Displaying just how dominant the mare has been this season, just 1.2 metres separates the Grimsey trained Golden Sunset from establishing a track or class record at each of her past three starts.

In the trotter’s marathon over 3157 metres three starts back, it was only in the closing strides that she was collared by Berriesandcherries, beaten 1.2 metres with the track record going to the Brendan Barnes trained and reined winner in a rate of 2.01.5.

With the 20-metre handicap differential, the individual mile rate of Golden Sunset was 2.00.8.

Two runs back, Golden Sunset tackled the mobile 2138 metre journey where she was too strong for her opponents, stopping the clock in 1.56.8, setting a new class record for mares over the middle trip.

The eight-year-old will again tackle the 2138 metre mobile trip this Saturday May 3 from gate five, before heading to Sydney for a tilt at the Macarthur Mile at Menangle.

That race will set up a likely showdown with Keayang Zahara, the unbeaten mare also rounding out her preparations for the Menangle trip in a free-for-all event at Melton on Saturday where she makes her first appearance this season.

“While it is good winning at home, if you can go away and compete against the better ones,” Grimsey said.

“It becomes a bigger challenge for yourself, and your horse and you get an idea where you are up to.”

Following the Sydney trip, Golden Sunset will return home to Grimsey’s Tamborine stables and be prepared for the Inter Dominion in July.