Tony Gollan is counting on a genuinely run Railway Stakes to provide Michael Rodd with a Group One win before departs for a riding stint in Singapore.
Rodd is going to Singapore to ride on a three-month contract from January 1 and Gollan would like nothing more than to provide a Group One winner for the popular jockey at Ascot on Saturday.
Gollan arrived in Perth early on Thursday morning to put the final touches to Alma’s Fury’s preparation for the $1 million race.
“Michael has won two Group one races for me aboard Spirit Of Boom. He has been a great help to me over the years and I would love to send him away with another Group One under his belt,” Gollan said.
He admits Alma’s Fury will face a task from barrier 18 in the big Railway Stakes field but the presence of Tasmanian galloper The Cleaner will ensure a proper tempo.
“At least you know there will be pace on,” Gollan said.
“Alma’s Fury also has some early pace and I hope The Cleaner breaks the field up and we can get over with some cover.”
Alma’s Fury raced well during the spring carnival without winning and was sent to Perth after running second to Hucklebuck in the Group Three Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington on November 1.
Hucklebuck enhanced the form by winning the Group One Emirates Stakes seven days later.
“We made the Railway Stakes the target for Alma’s Fury after he was beaten in the Rupert Clarke Stakes early in the spring,” Gollan said.
“The race is his grand final.”
Alma’s Fury was a class performer for Gollan during the winter, winning the Glasshouse Mountains Sprint and the Eye Liner Stakes.
Gollan is hoping for better luck on his second trip to the west after Spirit Of Boom ran fourth in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes last year.
Spirit Of Boom struck severe interference in the race and many pundits believe he should have won.
“That is all in the past and we get our chance to atone on Saturday,” Gollan said.
