Tony Gollan begins a late season onslaught with 13 runners at Doomben
Premier Trainer Tony Gollan begins a late season onslaught with 13 runners including a strong hand in the two main races at Doomben.
Gollan has been on a European holiday which took in the Royal Ascot carnival, but will be home at the weekend for what he hopes is the beginning of a strong finish to the season.
He is poised to pass 100 overall winners on Saturday with his tally currently standing at 98.
Gollan is leading the metropolitan premiership with 70 winners but is locked in a battle with Toowoomba’s Ben Currie for the state title.
He has been in constant contact with staff at his Eagle Farm stable and is looking forward to Lord Coconuts, Sheiswhatsheis and Pindan Pearl in the Brett Whalley and Co Open Hcp (1640m).
Gollan laid careful plans for Lord Coconuts, who did his early racing in Sydney under Bjorn Baker, after the gelding scored a fighting win at Ipswich in a metropolitan benchmark race three weeks ago.
“This is the third campaign I have had him for and I have learned you have to space his runs. I thought he might have needed the run when he won at Ipswich,” Gollan said.
“It was a good win as he came along the fence when most thought you had to get away from it.”
“I think he will be up to a race like the (Listed) Tatts Mile at Doomben later this month.”
Another former Sydney horse when trained by Tim Martin, Pindan Pearl is now owned by Queensland’s Glenlogan Park Stud and Gollan is keen to get a city win with the mare.
Sheiswhatsheis has had a freshen-up since her last start in May and won a Doomben trial on June 27.
Yet another former Sydney horse sent to Queensland, El Sasso ran second to Sheiswhatsheis in the trial and will resume in the Spicers Balfour Hotel Hcp (1200m).
El Sasso won six races for the Peter and Paul Snowden partnership in Sydney and will be having his second run for Gollan.
The gelding was sent north after struggling to find his best form and was well beaten in a race at Eagle Farm in February.
Gollan immediately sent him for a spell with the aim of missing the main part of the winter carnival.
“He has had two trials and run second behind some handy horses in both,” he said.
