A feature race win at the Sunshine Coast would be the icing on the cake for Tony Gollan as he closes out another successful winter carnival in Queensland.
The leading trainer’s highlight was a Group 1 victory with Vega One in the Kingsford-Smith Cup, that horse narrowly missing a second major when runner-up to Tofane in the Stradbroke Handicap.
In a tough blow for the stable, it was revealed on Brisbane radio on Friday that Vega One is now battling an infection suffered after he was badly galloped on in the Stradbroke and his racing career is in doubt.
While continuing to monitor Vega One’s health, Gollan will also turn his attention to Saturday’s Sunshine Coast meeting where he has a trio of stakes runners.
Glitter Strip and The Actuary will contest the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) and Snitch the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on what is expected to be a rain-sodden Caloundra track.
“It has been a terrific carnival. We’ve had feature race winners at all venues so far, which has been terrific, and hopefully the Sunshine Coast this weekend can provide us with a clean sweep,” Gollan said on his VIMEO platform.
“It’s a good wet weather track and it would want to be very good this week. I suggest we want horses that can really get through the heavy because it is going to be very heavy up there.”
A Doomben winner in May, Glitter Strip heads to the Guineas off a last-start fourth to promising Victorian Ayrton in the Gunsynd Classic, while The Actuary has proven form on heavy ground.
“Both fillies will run really well….but I can’t go past Glitter Strip off the good draw,” Gollan said.
“I really like this filly and even though she is unknown in the heavy, my gut feel says she will love it.”
Gollan said Snitch had continued to do well since taking out the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last month and rated him his best chance.
The gelding is unplaced in two starts on heavy tracks but Gollan believes that statistic is misleading given one was early in the horse’s career and the other in the 2019 Glasshouse when he finished fifth to River Racer.
“I’d suggest he’s going better now than what he was two seasons ago,” Gollan said.
“I’m not concerned by the heavy track. If we do get a heavy 10 I think he’ll get through it fine. I think he’s a live chance here.”
Gollan is looking for back-to-back wins in the Glasshouse after capturing the race 12 months ago with Krone.
