Top young Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan is licking his lips in anticipation of what might lay ahead.
With Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting the unofficial first day of the winter carnival, Gollan is sitting pretty with stable stars Listen Son and Spirit Of Boom both set to launch their campaigns.
Gollan will start Spirit Of Boom in the $100,000 Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) and Listen Son in $80,000 Hinkler Handicap (1200m) and he couldn’t be happier with the progress made by both horses in their preparations.
“They’ve both had faultless campaigns,” he said.
“Everything has gone according to plan and they are both exactly where I want them at this stage.”
Gollan’s current crop of horses, which also includes Temple Of Boom, makes him the envy of many of his more senior colleagues and the 32-year-old is excited about his carnival prospects.
“These are undoubtedly the best lot of horses I’ve ever had,” he said.
“I have had them all since they were yearlings and watched them improve and it’s a great position to be in as the carnival approaches.”
Gollan is confident punters will see the best of Spirit Of Boom this season and he has booked gun NSW apprentice Tim Bell to ride the colt on Saturday.
“He’s forward enough to run a good race,” he said.
“He’s been set for the three-year-old races and this is not a win at all cost race.
“I can see him settling just off the speed and he’ll be hitting the line powerfully.
“He’s a colt who gets better with racing and I just hope he can get some dry tracks this campaign.”
Listen Son is first-up since he was unplaced in the Bernborough Handicap on December 26 and Gollan is hoping the four-year-old can take the next step and develop into a Stradbroke Handicap contender.
Gollan has booked Kristy Banks to ride Listen Son and said he wouldn’t be concerned if the horse was forced into the pacemaker’s role on Saturday.
“He won’t be ridden to lead but we do look to be the major speed in the race,” he said.
“He’s had a faultless preparation and he won first-up last time.
“If he can take the next step he’ll go toward the Stradbroke – if not there are races like the Eye Liner and the Glasshouse Handicap.
“But he’ll race really well on Saturday.”
AAP TURF
