The country’s in-form sprinter has denied Spirit Of Boom feature autumn wins and the task doesn’t look any easier for his stablemate and half-brother in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick.
But trainer Tony Gollan insists Temple Of Boom enters Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age sprint after a faultless build-up.
Spirit Of Boom has run second to a rampant Lankan Rupee in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap, while Temple Of Boom faces Snitzerland and Buffering in the Challenge (1000m).
“This is a typical weight-for-age sprint. It’s a Group Two event but it’s really a Group One race,” Gollan said.
“It’s what we expected the race to be like and we were under no illusions as to what we were going to run into.”
Gollan is happy to be taking them on with Temple Of Boom who won the Group One Galaxy (1100m) the only time he raced at Randwick in 2012.
“We want the Sydney wet weather to stay on for him. He loves a soft track,” Gollan said.
“The horse has had a great preparation and build up.
“He’s had a couple of jump-outs at Eagle Farm, we’ve had use of the course proper another three or four times so he’s going there with a really good fitness base under him.”
Gollan said Temple Of Boom would travel with Buffering on Wednesday night from Brisbane.
Hugh Bowman has the ride.
“We’ve got a good jockey, a horse that’s in great shape and provided we can get some sting out of the ground, he’ll run really well,” Gollan said.
The trainer, meanwhile, is still tossing up between the Group One William Reid Stakes and Group One Galaxy for Spirit Of Boom’s next start.
