THE QUICK WRAP: DOOMBEN JAN 1: GOLLAN, HARRISON DOUBLE KICK-STARTS THE NEW YEAR AT DOOMBEN

By Graham Potter | Thursday, January 1, 2015

Tony Gollan levelled up with Robert Heathcote at the top of the Brisbane Trainers Premiership when he saddled a double at the opening meeting of the New Year at Doomben.

Both of the Gollan winners, Max It Out and Vienna Royale were ridden by Tegan Harrison.

Max It Out was simply too good for her rivals romping home by 3.30 lengths but it was much more a nail biter for Vienna Royale who showed fair grit under a very determined ride to get home from a wall of horses (less than a length covered the first six runners across the line) at the juicy odds of $12.

The training effort of the day had to go to Tina Cotsiopoulos who sent Schiavone (Andrew Spinks) out first-up after a thirteen month layoff with a tendon injury to score a tough-as-nails victory in the opening event on the card.

Brian Smith and Larry Cassidy lost out in the Schiavone photo-finish (with Riverbolda) but that duo went one better in the third race with Lock’s Legend, again in a thriller.

Glen Colless was back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since returning from injury scoring aboard the lightly raced, Matthew Dunn trained Lever Lever.

Janette Johnson too went home a winner. She recently took a voluntary break from race riding before gradually easing her way back into race fitness and her success on the Bryan Guy trained One Grey in the last was a fitting reward her effort.

Ben Currie just keeps on winning at a variety of venues. He didn’t need to break sweat when his runner Midnight Allure (Ryan Wiggins) came home the easiest winner on the day, crossing the line a full 4.80 lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Chris Whiteley, fresh from his win on Mishani Honcho in the BJ McLachlan States at the Gold Coast on Saturday, stayed in the spotlight with a confident winning ride aboard the Barry Lockwood trained Smart Cash.

Midnight Allure ($3.20) was the shortest priced runner to win on the day and one of three favourite to salute over the eight races. The other winning favourites were Smart cash ($3.60) and Lever Lever ($4) while three runners scored at double figure odds on the day to keep some of the bagmen happy.

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