Veteran Queensland sprinter Temple of Boom will have residual fitness on his side in his attempt to boost his prize money beyond $2 million in the Memsie Stakes.
The nine-year-old hasn’t won since last year’s Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm but has been so consistent in stakes races his prize money now stands at $1,918,245.
The first prize for the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday is $240,000.
Temple of Boom will travel to Melbourne on Wednesday night after working well at Randwick on Tuesday morning.
His brother Spirit of Boom won $2.4 million while their arch-rival Buffering is Queensland’s highest money earner with $4.5 million.
Trainer Tony Gollan can’t hide his smile when he talks about Temple of Boom and Spirit of Boom who is now at stud.
“I remember thinking when Temple was three and Spirit was two that I had two horses who might win a $1 million in prize money,” Gollan said.
“To think both could go over $2 million is something very special.”
“But even if Temple of Boom doesn’t win another cent he owes us nothing.”
Gollan has carefully planned Temple of Boom’s spring campaign with the gelding trialling and then resuming in Sydney.
“His third in the Missile Stakes first-up was very good. He seems to be racing as well as ever,” Gollan said.
“The plan was always to give him a start and then head into the Memsie where he will meet a few horses starting their spring campaigns.”
“He will have residual fitness on his side and a few of the other might not be ready for the 1400 metres.”
He said Temple of Boom had raced well at his only start at the tricky Caulfield circuit.
“He ran midfield in the Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes two years ago but he was only about two lengths from the winner Rebel Dane,” Gollan said.
“I think the pace of 1400 metre races suits him better these days.”
There are no major plans for Temple of Boom after the Memsie with Gollan wanting to play it by ear with the gelding.
“He is racing well but when horses get to this level you have to take them one race at a time,” he said.
Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra will be having his first ride on Temple Of Boom who has barrier nine.
Fawkner, who drew 18 in the field of 16 plus four emergencies, has already been scratched.
“We had originally planned to run Temple of Boom in the Aurie’s Star at Flemington two weeks ago but elected to run in Sydney.”
“Mark was to ride him in the Aurie’s Star and we are happy to stick with him,” Gollan said.
