Tony Gollan was quick to thank Victorian trainer Mick Kent after Coldstone won the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben.
Gollan has plundered the early feature races in the Brisbane summer again this season and Coldstone’s win was his fifth in the first three weeks of the carnival.
Coldstone originally raced in France but had a successful stint in Victoria with Kent before being tried as a stayer in the Brisbane winter where he was unplaced in the Tattersall’s Cup.
The decision was made to leave Coldstone in Brisbane with Gollan as a possible summer carnival horse.
Coldstone ($5.50) took advantage of a break-neck early pace set by Kay Kay Boy and Prioritise before pouncing at the top of the straight to go on to an easy win.
Gollan said Coldstone had been working well and had been enjoying his time in Queensland.
“I would like to thank Mick (Kent) and the connections for leaving him with me after the winter. He is a gross horse and I have rung Mick a couple of times to talk about him,” Gollan said.
“Mick has been very good about things and he deserves credit for the way the horse is racing.”
Gollan said Coldstone would now press on to the Listed Bernborough Stakes at Doomben on December 29.
“I have said all along I won’t get this horse out past 1600m. I don’t think he is a stayer,” Gollan said.
Matt McGillivray will retain the ride in the Bernborough Stakes after a clever effort in the Brisbane Handicap.
“Matt has ridden him both his starts here and done a good job so he will stay on,” Gollan said.
Sold For Song ($6.50) and Ruling Dynasty ($20) ran on well to dead-heat for second but they were never a chance of catching Coldstone.
