Premiership leader Tony Gollan leads into possibly the biggest and most exciting racing week of his life with two runners in Queensland’s greatest race, the Stradbroke handicap. As excited as he is there is also a touch of sadness around knowing that this will be the last time he takes his superstar and mate Spirit Of Boom to the track as he will head off to stud duties afterwards.
Tony’s comment said it all “It will be bloody sad to see him go, I won’t look forward to loading him onto that float next week I can tell you that now! He has been a good horse from the get go, he has been everywhere and is a joy to train. He has been with us for 5 years and a lot has happened in that 5 years.”
(I didn’t say it to Tony but I reckon he will miss the horse more than Spirit misses him- Life as a stallion, What a life!)
As usual both the Boom Brothers will be prepared perfectly for their assignment in the Stradbroke and I thought we should get a comment on his big guns going around on the weekend.
Tony said both Boom boys are going really well and he is very happy with them both. Plenty of jockeys have chased the ride on Temple Of Boom but the very much in form Tegan Harrison keeps the ride and I reckon that is a super decision.
AMEXED- “We will ride him to run the journey, ride him where he is comfortable. A good gate would be great and be able to come out nice and quiet on him, let him relax maybe midfield and be strong through the line.”
LOOKS LIKE THE CAT- “Yet again, another nice barrier would be good where we can be a bit quieter and smother him up and be winning inside the furlong and not before sort of thing.” (Damian Browne rides)
Tony said nothing much changes for them from a fortnight ago, the horses are going well and can hopefully be winning again.
As many would know Gollan leads a tight premiership battle with Rob Heathcote a few wins behind heading into the last couple of months. It is a great achievement to even be battling it out when it wasn’t that long ago he had to pick up and move from Toowoomba to Eagle Farm.
Good luck to Tony and all the team on the weekend, I’m sure we would all love Spirit to go out a winner!
