Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has a long association with the family of two-year-old Looming Large who makes his debut at Eagle Farm.
Looming Large won a Doomben trial by five lengths on Tuesday and as long as he continues to do well, he will back up in Saturday’s QTIS 2YO Handicap (1000m) despite a bad barrier (9).
“I can’t get a decent barrier at the moment but he is a nice horse and this race suits him,” Gollan said.
“I trained his sire Spirit of Boom and Spirit’s mother Temple Spirit. I also trained Looming Large’s dam Miss Leibert and her mother Stravain Lady.
“So I have now trained three generations on Looming Large’s maternal side and I obviously know a lot about his sire’s side of things.”
Gollan paid $75,000 for Looming Large at the 2019 Magic Millions Yearling Sales.
“Obviously I won Group One races with Spirit (Of Boom) but Miss Leibert was one of those horses who gave me a real kick along about eight years ago,” he said.
“I always thought she would make a decent broodmare and hopefully I will be proven right.”
Miss Leibert won six races and finished second to Driefontein in the 2014 Magic Millions Quality which was the forerunner to the current Millions Fillies and Mares race.
Miss Leibert has produced several foals but Looming Large will be her first to race.
Gollan again finished the leading trainer during the Brisbane summer carnival with 15 winners, including eight in feature races, earning approximately $2.5 million prize money.
He hopes to continue in that vein at Eagle Farm where he will have nine runners including promising sprinter Six Sigma in the Paddy Fest Handicap.
Six Sigma won three of his five starts last campaign and Gollan is hoping he can progress through the grades this preparation.
The gelding also trialled at Doomben on Tuesday finishing second after covering ground.
Six Sigma has 61kg but Stephanie Thornton’s claim will reduce his weight to 59.5kg.
