Trainer Tony Gollan’s Group One star Temple Of Boom could join world champion sprinter Black Caviar on the international stage at England’s Royal Ascot in June.
Gollan’s alternative is to stay at home and tackle next month’s Group One Doomben 10,000 and the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June, depending on weather conditions in his home state.
Gollan received a second approach from Royal Ascot officials to start Temple Of Boom in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes (1006m) following the gelding’s victory in the Group One Galaxy at Randwick on Saturday.
Australian representatives have won the King’s Stand Stakes four times with Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast in 2009.
Temple Of Boom gave Gollan the first Group One win of his 13-year training career in the Galaxy.
“If we go over he won’t be running against Black Caviar – no way,” Gollan said.
“I got a phone call from Jack Petley who represents the club over here and they’d like him to run in the King’s Stand Stakes.
“It’s the second time we’ve been approached to go over. I was first asked about it in January.
“Black Caviar is running in the Golden Jubilee so if we do head over we won’t be meeting her.”
Gollan hopes to make a decision this week whether to accept the invitation.
“He had his inoculation when we thought about sending him to Hong Kong in December,” Gollan said.
“He’ll only need a booster shot if we decide to go over.
“I’m 50-50 about it. It’s a big trip and he’s a five-year-old but I still haven’t got to the bottom of him yet.”
Gollan also has some reservations about the major winter sprints if he stays at home.
“The weather here will be a big factor. If the tracks here start to dry up quickly we might not continue with his preparation,” he said.
“If he goes over his last run here would be in the BTC Cup,” Gollan said.
“We’ll weigh it all up over the next week.”
The Group One BTC Cup (1200m) will be run at Doomben on May 12.
Gollan is still coming to terms with winning his first Group One race.
“It’s everything I thought and a bit more,” he said.
“I’ve never felt anything like it before.
“I didn’t think anything would top the feeling I had when he won in front of a crowd of 100,000 on Oaks day at Flemington in 2010.
“Winning races on Magic Millions day also was massive but this was completely different.”
