The Tauranga-based Goss is rolling back the years with Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a strapping chestnut who is unbeaten in his last four appearances and his trainer and part-owner believes the best is yet to come.
Gold Watch, who suffered his only defeat on debut, was an impressive winner at Te Rapa at the weekend and is likely to have one more start before a break and return for a spring campaign when it is hoped he can make his mark to the top level for Goss.
“He might have one more run at Auckland and then he’ll have two months out. I’ll bring him back on June 1 and that will give me three months to get him ready for some good races,” the 89-year-old said.
“When he gallops at home, he’ll see the winning post and put on a bit of speed and then just pricks his ears and pulls up.
“He knows when he’s done the job and does that on race day. He’s just a touch over 17 hands and he’s taken time to mature, I still think he’s six months away.
“All he wants to do is win, he’s a very game horse. I think he'll reach Group 1 company in the spring.
“I’ve sold a lot of my horses and have been offered big money for this horse, but I don’t need the money. I might as well enjoy him and the years I’ve got left, he’s keeping me young.”
“I’ve sold a lot of my horses and have been offered big money for this horse, but I don’t need the money. I might as well enjoy him and the years I’ve got left, he’s keeping me young.” – Cliff Goss
Goss began his career as an apprentice with the late Eric Ropiha and while he didn’t make his mark in the saddle, he was able to watch and learn from one of New Zealand’s great trainers, who received the ONZM (New Zealand Order of Merit) in 1966 for his services to the equine industry.
Ropiha won the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership in the 1959/60 racing season with 43 winners and among his many top representatives were G1 Melbourne Cup placegetters Ilumquh (NZ) (Sabean {GB}) and Fans (NZ) (Fairs Fair {GB}).
“That’s where I learned to be patient with horses. Eric was that way and he was one of the best trainers in New Zealand, and a top man,” Goss said. “I didn’t do any good as an apprentice and turned to training.
“I was later with Rex Beale and he had Ma Cherie, who won the Epsom H,. and was second in the Auckland Cup. I trained in partnership with Rex for a while and we had some good horses.”
Cliff Goss (left) with Gold Watch (NZ)
The lure of racing
Goss was first granted his licence 60 years ago and while he has had breaks away, the lure of racing has brought him back time and again.
“I trained for quite a long while in Palmerston North. I had a spell away when I bought a hotel at Castlepoint and I was commercial crayfishing there as well for four or five years,” he said.
“I had a spell away when I bought a hotel at Castlepoint and I was commercial crayfishing there as well for four or five years.” – Cliff Goss
“I got my licence again after that when I got an invite to train in Macau. I was there two years and had a horse called Grand Duke, who won five in a row.”
Goss’ Macau stay was cut short following an unsavoury incident when that horse was nobbled.
“He was poisoned and never won another race. I wasn’t going to have any of that and we came home,” he said.
“When we got home I said to my wife let’s find somewhere a bit warmer and we came to Tauranga. I was out of racing for a little while and then I lost my wife about four years ago and that’s the reason I’m training again.
“It’s something to do, it’s no good sitting around and you’ve got to have something to keep you going and active.”
Goss purchased Gold Watch out of a paddock at Trelawney Stud, owned and operated by his daughter Cherry Taylor and her husband Brent.
“I‘m down at the stables every morning and afternoon and you don’t mind doing it with a horse like him. I’ve also got an Iffraaj 2-year-old who is with Daniel Miller. I can do two and Daniel will get him up to trialling and then I’ll take him over.”
