They are half-brothers, barn mates and travelling companions but on Saturday Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom will be Group One rivals.
The Tony Gollan-trained duo will line up in the Patinack Farm Classic down the 1200m straight course at Flemington.
Affectionately labelled the `Boom Brothers’ by punters and media, Gollan says they have more simple monikers around the stable.
“Nah, we don’t have a nickname for them. Just `Spirit’ and `Temple’ is how we divide the two of them,” Gollan said.
“They get on terrifically well. They’ve travelled a lot together now, they’ve been going to the races together since Spirit was two. They’ve also raced on the same day a lot of the time.
“Temple started travelling a bit before Spirit but now they travel together and they’ve raced against each other a few times now.”
Both gallopers are out of Temple Spirit, a mare Gollan trained to win eight races between 2003 and 2004.
Six-year-old Temple Of Boom is older by a year and is already a Group One winner of The Galaxy at Randwick.
Spirit Of Boom is yet to win at the highest level, coming closest when fourth in the Doomben 10,000 in May.
However, Gollan has used a tried and true measure to help bring the best out in the entire this spring.
Before Spirit Of Boom’s narrow second in the Yellowglen Stakes last Saturday, Gollan jumped him over some logs and has done the same in the lead-up to the Patinack.
“It’s something different for him, he’s a stallion,” he said.
“I spoke to a few older and wiser trainers than me about it. I always wanted to do it and I thought he was the right horse.
“Coming into the Flemington carnival we didn’t want to leave any stone unturned. We narrowly missed last Saturday and hope we can make amends this week.”
Hopes are also high for Temple Of Boom, although Gollan would prefer some sting out of the track for him.
He has finished fifth at his two Melbourne runs this spring at Caulfield and Moonee Valley but reserves his best for the straight course where he has notched three wins.
“It’s his favourite track. He runs his best races there and it’s a bonus getting back on the straight after having the two corner races,” Gollan said.
“But both horses, I’m very happy with their preparations and this has been their grand final all spring.”
The pair have had varying fortunes with barriers.
Spirit Of Boom has the rails while Temple Of Boom has drawn one from the outside.
AAP TU
