Mark Goodwin warped by resurgent stayer

By Jordan Gerrans

When Warp Speed was beaten by 11 lengths on the dirt at Cunnamulla in November of 2022, it is fair to say his future as a race horse was not looking promising.

The Star Witness gelding was at his third different stable in the space of a few months and in his first effort for Roma’s Wayne Baker he was beaten out of sight on a non-TAB program.

The galloper was staring retirement directly in the face after that Cunnamulla effort.

What Warp Speed has accomplished since that afternoon at Cunnamulla is nothing short of remarkable.

He has won three city races – two on a Saturday – as well as claiming a Cup race during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival and competing in black-type events over the winter in Brisbane.

After that one start for Baker at Cunnamulla, Warp Speed has been under the watch of veteran Darling Downs horseman Mark Goodwin.

The resurgent Warp Speed and his wily conditioner go in search of their hometown Toowoomba Cup this Saturday afternoon as they aim to continue their dazzling form of late.

The eight-year-old bay gelding is raced by a handful of people from Wyandra and Roma in regional Queensland. 

When Warp Speed first landed with the Toowoomba trainer, veterinarians informed him the galloper would be lucky to race ever again with a suspensory issue.

In his own words, Goodwin admits that he has predominately been a county trainer during his lengthy tenure in the industry but he is enjoying his time in the sun when it comes to feature racing.

“Different trainers have different methods and he seems to have fitted into mine,” the veteran horseman said of Warp Speed's stunning form reversal. 

“Whatever I do, it must work for him. He has not looked back since he has been here with me, he has been a wonderful horse to the owners.

“He was a good cheap buy and he has won nearly $300,000 for the owners, which is a lot of money.

“He has been a good horse and a special horse for me as what he has done has been quite an achievement.

“It is a great achievement to go up there to North Queensland and win with an older horse and to be able to bring him on from where he was.”

Nearing 80 years of age, Goodwin no longer rides his own gallopers in their work.

He did so until he was 74 years of age.

He will still do their shoes when he gets the chance.

The stalwart horseman does not have a lot of staff at his Toowoomba stables, he prefers to do much of the work himself – aided by a few family members – with his team of usually around five horses.

He has trained out of Roma, Chinchilla and now at Toowoomba in his lengthy career in the game.

The long-time trainer jokes that he receives the same level of satisfaction out of preparing a winner regardless of it is at Wyandra or in Brisbane.  

Goodwin also spent time as an assistant trainer overseas on top of a period in Sydney, as well.

The well-travelled stable have tasted black-type success in years gone by.

A juvenile named I’m The One claimed the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes back in 2010.

That will always remain as a career highlight for Goodwin.

The recent $150,000 Townsville Cup triumph with Warp Speed and jockey Michael Cahill is right up there with the Phelan Ready as well for the veteran conditioner.

After claiming the Townsville staying feature, the team had to settle for second a week later in the Mackay Cup.

They ventured further north to Cairns without any success at FNQ’s Cannon Park but regardless, Goodwin was over the moon with what the northern trip yielded.

“It was great and a big achievement for all the boys, all the owners in him,” he said.

“They got a great thrill out of it; the old horse went well. We went back to Mackay and ran second, running into a better horse on the day.

“Apart from that, it was a really good trip.”

Goodwin has booked Angela Jones for Saturday’s 2000 metre assignment at Toowoomba Turf Club.

After travelling around Australia and the globe in the industry, Goodwin opted to retire to Toowoomba to better care for his ill wife.

To win a local Cup at Clifford Park for the family would be a profound occasion.   

“It would mean a lot to win it here,” he said.

As of Thursday morning, Warp Speed is a $17 chance in the Cup with bookmakers after drawing the 10 alley for Jones to commence from.

Edging closer to his 80^th birthday, Goodwin does not anticipate handing in his trainer's licence any time soon.

“I still really love it,” he says.

“I have done many, many things in my bush life but I have always had my one or two horses.

“That is how I have always been, it has been my hobby – some people play golf – but I have my race horses.

“I will keep training for as long as I can, I have no intention of retiring. I will keep poking a long with a few, it is the best way to be.”