Trainer Tony Gollan hopes to resolve Spirit Of Boom’s path to the Group One Stradbroke Handicap during the winter after the sprinter makes his comeback in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Gollan is torn between a weight-for-age path to the $1 million feature at Eagle Farm in June or a traditional handicap route.
Spirit Of Boom has not started since his brilliant victory in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January but indicated he was well forward in condition when runner-up to Adebisi in a recent barrier trial at Doomben.
“He only had three weeks off after his Magic Millions win and he’s probably more forward for this campaign than any previous preparation,” Gollan said.
“The Stradbroke is his goal but I’m still not sure how to get there.
“My original plan was to start him next week in the (Listed) Hinkler Handicap and then go to the (Listed) Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast.
“But he’d probably give too much weight away in the Hinkler although I’d love to run him in the Prime Minister’s Cup as he’s got a great record at the Gold Coast.”
Gollan will decide after the Bribie Handicap whether the four-year-old runs take the weight-for-age path to the Stradbroke Handicap via the Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) on April 28 and next month’s Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben.
“I’ll be using the Bribie to decide whether he goes to the Victory Stakes in two weeks or we wait for the Prime Minister’s Cup,” he said.
Gollan has no regrets about signing off on an autumn carnival campaign in Melbourne with Spirit Of Boom following his Magic Millions Cup victory.
“He needed to be in the paddock after the Magic Millions but we’re looking at taking him to Melbourne for the spring,” he said.
Gollan is pinning his winter carnival hopes on a dry winter for Spirit Of Boom.
“His record would be a lot better had it not been for wet tracks which have disrupted his career,” he said.
Gollan also believes jockey Ric McMahon has been a major factor in Spirit Of Boom’s recent success.
“I’ve always thought Ric’s style of riding would suit him,” he said.
