Tony Gollan’s decision to send Boomtown Boss south has paid immediate dividends, with the Queensland sprinter claiming the first black-type race of the new Australian racing season in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
After an interrupted Brisbane winter campaign, Gollan opted to freshen the gelding following the Eye Liner Stakes before relocating him to Ciaron Maher’s Cranbourne base in preparation for a crack down the famous Flemington straight.
The move proved inspired as Boomtown Boss ($13) produced a determined performance to edge out Royal Insignia ($8.50) by a neck, with Arkansaw Kid finishing third.
Gollan said the spacious Flemington layout always looked likely to suit the gelding’s racing style.
“He profiles as a horse who loves big tracks and a lot of room so I felt that for a little while he would make a nice straight horse,” Gollan said.
“During his winter prep, he was going nowhere and when I zigged I should have zagged, everything was going wrong.
“I knew this race was on the cards so I backed off him (after the Eye Liner Stakes) and sent him to Ciaron’s (Maher) at Cranbourne to really settle him in.
“I thought the trip away, and with straight racing, I thought it would suit him and through the race he was travelling alright.”
There was late drama before the race when original favourite War Machine was scratched after breaking through the starting barriers.
Further controversy followed after the finish when the connections of Royal Insignia lodged a protest against winning rider Daniel Moor, alleging excessive whip use.
Stewards acknowledged there had been excessive use but ruled it was not sufficient to affect the result, allowing Boomtown Boss to retain the race by a neck.
Moor admitted the gelding was still learning the demands of straight-track racing.
“He came here a bit unknown down the straight and he did wander about a bit and change legs a lot, but you just know that when you’re on a Tony Gollan horse that they are well prepared,” Moor said.
The victory gave Gollan his second success in the Aurie’s Star Handicap after Temple Of Boom captured the race in 2011.
Compare the latest spring carnival markets with Australia’s leading Top 10 Betting Apps.
