Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan believes his success with former Sydney horses can help him take his feature race wins this season into double figures.
Gollan has won nine feature races in Queensland this season and he is confident Saturday’s Doomben winner Casual Choice can make it 10 in the $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) on March 12.
His feature winners this season have been Traveston Girl (Brisbane Hcp, Recognition Stakes), Didntcostalot (George Moore Stakes), Fontelina (Lough Neagh Stakes), Secret Saga (Mode Stakes), Zelady’s Night Out (Calaway Gal Stakes, McLachlan Stakes), Tina Melina (Nudgee Quality) and Whiskey Allround (Falvelon Quality).
Fontelina and Didntcostalot both did their early racing in Sydney and Gollan believes Casual Choice can join them as a big race winner.
The gelding was previously trained by Joe Pride at Warwick Farm and has been with Gollan for two campaigns.
“He came to me in great fettle from Sydney and won at his first start for us,” Gollan said.
“But then his form dropped off a bit and we spelled him.
“Since he has come back for his second term with us I have been able to do a few different things with him. I think this can really be his campaign.
“We won the Gold Coast Stakes with Rocket To Glory last year and I think we can do it again.”
Rival trainer Marcus Wilson is also looking at the Gold Coast Stakes for Saturday’s open handicap winner Mana Manu, a Warwick Farm winner for trainer Allan Denham before being sold to Queensland.
“Mana Manu is a pretty good horse but he needs a dry track and a good barrier. He got both on Saturday,” Wilson said.
Wilson has gradually built up his team since moving to the Gold Coast from Muswellbrook in NSW and has won recent metropolitan races with Meteorologist and St Andrews.
