Newlywed Tony Gollan has bagged the girl of his dreams, and on Saturday chases another dream, winning a Group 1 on home soil with one of his ‘Boom Brothers’ in the 2014 BTC Cup.
William Reid Stakes winner Spirit Of Boom is one of two 2014 BTC Cup chances for Tony Gollan. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Young Gollan married sweetheart Jane Ormsby, former assistant of leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse, over the weekend but it is this Saturday he is more nervous about.
The up-and-coming trainer will saddle-up two livewire chances in the $400,000 Group 1 Bunderberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben Racecourse, an event set to draw a bumper crowd.
The opening Group 1 of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival is a race Gollan would love to win to hand him his first elite level trophy in Queensland.
“If I can win a Group 1 in my own backyard, that will be a dream come true,” Gollan, 35, told News.com.au.
BTC Cup betting is currently led by Rob Heathcote’s local three time Group 1 champ Buffering and John O’Shea’s smart Sydney colt Sidestep.
A little further down the markets then are Gollan’s runners with Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom both set to accept when the final field is out on Wednesday.
Michael Rodd will reunite with Spirit Of Boom after they missed the Victory Stakes ride due to suspension.
Tegan Harrison then retains the ride on Temple Of Boom.
Of the two it is his William Reid Stakes winner Spirit Of Boom who is the better fancied by the bookies despite the fact the Sequalo six-year-old went down to Temple Of Boom last start.
The duo ran the quinella in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 26 in a result Gollan hopes they can repeat at a higher level on Saturday.
Before the Victory Stakes Piccolo seven-year-old Temple Of Boom had been out of form, unable to win a race since their 2012 The Galaxy win in Sydney.
They both then get a chance of becoming dual Group 1 winners if either takes out the BTC Cup in an upset result that would keep the good times rolling for their in-form trainer.
“I’ve won two Group 1s, the two boys have won one each, and I think they’re both live chances in an open race on Saturday,” Gollan said.
“I think they’re both in really good shape.
“Temple is going as good as he’s ever gone. It sounds silly because he’s older, but I thought his first-up run in the Challenge Stakes [to run eighth behind Villa Verde] was good.”
Gollan believes Temple Of Boom’s next two runs after that when sixth in both The Galaxy and Sebring Stakes at Rosehill were forgivable, the evergreen veteran not suited to the track there and a far better chances at home.
“He then raced at Rosehill [in the Galaxy and Sebring Stakes] and I think he’s a horse who hates Rosehill,” he said.
“All his runs there have been horrible. Even when he won the Galaxy, his lead-up run at Rosehill was terrible. I was willing to overlook his Sydney preparation.”
He does admire the form of Spirit Of Boom this time in though, rating the Melbourne Group 1 winner a real chance in the right conditions after they hit the line so well for their Victory Stakes second.
“I’m not sure if Spirit knows he got beat the other day because he hit he line that hard,” he said.
“Weather will play a big part. They’ve forecast rain for the end of the week, which isn’t ideal for Spirit.”
The weather will also determine whether Gerald Ryan runs his Black Caviar Lightning winning mare Snitzerland in the BTC Cup or send her out to the paddock to prepare for a spring return.
The official BTC Cup 2014 field is due for release on Wednesday and will be published right here at Races.com.au so stay tuned.
In the meantime get ready for the action by opening your account at Ladbrokes.com.au who will have Best Tote or SP + 20% markets open on the BTC Cup this weekend!
