Veteran sprinter Fontelina will be on trial for the chance to win his favourite race for a third time when he has his first start for premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan.
Formerly trained by Anthony Cummings at Randwick, Fontelina will return to the track for Saturday’s City Tattersall’s Club Lightning (1100m).
But it is at Flemington where he excels with his two wins in the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (now tab.com.au Stakes) helping him to almost $1 million prize money.
The gelding is part-owned by Rob Willis and Michael Buys who have several horses with Gollan and transferred Fontelina to him after he was unplaced in the Group One Stradbroke Hcp (1350m) at Doomben in June.
“If he races well on Saturday I will give him a chance to win his third Yellowglen,” Gollan said.
“Funny thing is both times he won it (2012 and 2013) he beat my horse Spirit of Boom.”
“So I suppose you can say he owes me one.”
Spirit Of Boom got his own back when he nosed Fontelina out of a Group One victory in the 2014 William Reid Stakes.
Fontelina then spent a year away from the races with an ankle injury.
Gollan said Fontelina had pleased him in the lead-up to the Lightning although barrier 11 was not ideal.
“If he runs in the first four we will head to Melbourne,” he said.
“It is a very good race with in-form horses such as Fell Swoop who are well drawn.”
“We would need everything to go our way to beat them.”
Fontelina was a $21 chance with the TAB on Friday with Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop the dominant $2.90 favourite.
Trained in Canberra by Matthew Dale, Fell Swoop will be out to add the Lightning to his two recent Listed wins in Melbourne.
Fell Swoop is the winner of eight of his 10 starts and is already being regarded as the best horse to come from the region since champion sprinter Takeover Target.
Adding to tale, Takeover Target’s jockey Jay Ford will ride Fell Swoop at Randwick.
