Leading trainer Tony Gollan admits he is on a learning curve with his latest stable acquisition, the promising stayer Hi Son.
Gollan is now training most of owner Phil Sullivan’s racing team after they were with David Kelly at the Gold Coast.
Hi Son, who won six races for Kelly, has been rated as one of the most promising horses in the state and is set to take his place in the Beach House Bar & Grill Handicap (2120m) at Doomben on Saturday.
“The horse came to me in terrific fettle. He really looks well and I have watched his runs on video,” Gollan said.
Gollan said Hi Son had been unlucky when fifth over 1800m at Eagle Farm at his most recent start.
“It is a natural progression to go from 1800 metres to 2100 metres but there has been three weeks between runs,” he said.
Gollan has a few options with Hi Son who is adaptable, having won from 1200m to 2100m.
Tegan Harrison, who finished second on Hi Son in the Centenary Mile two starts ago, keeps the ride on Saturday.
Harrison, who comes out of her apprenticeship time next week, is in line to ride some of Gollan’s runners in the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals later this year.
Meanwhile, Gollan has elected to run another promising stayer Trakstar on Saturday rather than send him to the barrier trials.
Trakstar hasn’t started since finishing second over 2200m in a metropolitan-class race at the Gold Cost in March but he had won his two previous starts at Doomben and Eagle Farm.
