Tony Gollan has three runners in his bid to win Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, with Jonker back from an injury setback to join in-form stablemates Vega One and Outback Barbie.
Jonker missed the Doomben 10,000 after he kicked a leg in his stable box.
Gollan believes he’s now back on track and he worked strongly with Vega One on Tuesday morning at Eagle Farm.
“It was his first look at the Eagle farm course proper for me and I was really happy with his work,” Gollan said.
“Vega One just sat off him. They covered the ground nicely and both horses pulled up beautifully.”
Jonker has now had course proper gallops at Ipswich, Doomben and Eagle Farm in the past week and Gollan said “his fitness is pretty good.”
Vega One has loomed to win at his past two runs before just peaking late. The trainer says “he still has a bit of horse to work with” and expects him to come into his own at 1300m on Saturday and then 1400m in the Stradbroke Handicap a fortnight later.
“The shorter trips were okay in lesser grade. Now he’s up in the top grade this distance is going to suit him. One thing when you bring him to Eagle Farm you know he really enjoys the surface,” Gollan said.
Outback Barbie worked on her own and Gollan said seemed to handle the surface well enough, given her Eagle Farm record is far inferior to what she’s done at Doomben.
Younger stablemate Tiger Heart continues to impress as he goes to Saturday’s Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes.
Tiger Heart sat off older stablemate Palladas on Tuesday morning and appeared to work very strongly.
“It was his first look at Eagle Farm and he sat off a three-year-old who always races well here at Eagle Farm,” Gollan said. “It’s going to be a very good race (but) it’s a race we’re looking forward to.
“He’s a horse I particularly like and a horse we’re excited about for the next couple of years.”
