Brisbane racing’s Boom Brothers, Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom, were back in town on Saturday to quinella the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.
However, as far as punters were concerned it was the wrong brother who won after Temple Of Boom, the outsider of the field at $41, scored his first win since the 2012 Galaxy in Sydney.
Temple Of Boom charged clear and held on to beat Spirit of Boom ($4) by a half neck with a short neck to the favourite Snitzerland ($2.40) in third place.
Apprentice Tegan Harrison followed trainer Tony Gollan’s instructions to the letter before riding her first Group winner.
“I had the whip knocked out my hands in the straight and I would have won by further,” she said.
“Tony told me to be aggressive and not worry where I ended up. It worked out perfectly.”
Gollan said the decorated stablemates had travelled back well from their Sydney campaigns where Temple Of Boom had no luck and Spirit of Boom was scratched from the TJ Smith Stakes.
“I knew Temple Of Boom would race well because of his work this week,” Gollan said.
“And Spirit Of Boom was the run of the race after getting back to last on a day where they aren’t coming from last.
“I am so proud of them both. I love these two horses and to quinella a Group Two with them is a dream come true.”
Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom will now press on to the Brisbane Group One sprint treble of the BTC Cup, Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap.
Meanwhile, trainer Rob Heathcote had the last laugh when his three-year-old Hopfgarten ($8) won the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1600m).
“A few people laughed at me during the week when I said I was considering entering this bloke for the Stradbroke,” Heathcote said.
“But I knew how good he is and that is now a real option.”
Trainer Trevor Bailey will press on with a Queensland Derby campaign with runner-up Avalanches ($11) and his next start is likely to be the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben in a fortnight.
Rudy, the $3.10 favourite, was a short half-head behind Avalanches and pleased trainer Helen Page who will also continue with Derby plans for the gelding.
