THE DOOMBEN 10 000 - GREAT MEMORIES FROM LAST YEAR'S VICTORY AND READY TO GIVE IT ANOTHER GO

By Tony Gollan | Friday, May 22, 2015

Group 1 winning trainer Tony Gollan is the leading trainer in Brisbane. Having won the Brisbane Trainers’ Premiership last season, Gollan has not only cemented his position at the top of the ladder for the second racing year in succession, but he is currently closing fast on the record for most number of Metropolitan wins in Brisbane in a season ... a record which has stood for twenty-seven years. Tony’s weekly blog appears exclusively on HRO.

10 000 day on Saturday ... and the memories of last year will remain strong for a very long time.

It’s very hard to describe what I felt when I saw Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom, two of my favourite horses, quinella that race.

They both found their right spots very early in the run. When that happened, I thought from some way out they were going to be right there in the finish.

Doomben’s not the longest straight in the world but the run home did seem to last for an eternity.

Buffering was charging along on the inside but when my two horses were exposed Temple kicked and that gave Spirit room to get out ... that’s how it worked ... but it seemed like they were running in slow motion to me.

When they hit the line it was a truly amazing feeling.

All my Group 1’s have been a little bit different.

The first one, when Temple won the Galaxy, was a completely different feeling. It was pins and needles but again it was a real slow motion race.

Then the William Reed, when Spirit won, it was a sense of relief because I really wanted him to win a Group 1 ... and then Brisbane (the 10 000), I can’t describe it.

It was at home. It was a sense of achievement. It was my two favourite horses.

I also knew Spirit only had one more run left in the Stradbroke so, before the 10 000, I only had two rolls of the dice left with him.

For those two horses to do what they did ... they also ran the quinella in the Victory Stakes a month earlier ... the other way around ... really was a bizarre feeling. I was nearly speechless post-race.

To get the quinella in one of our biggest sprints was just an amazing, amazing feeling.

Temple and Spirit have done so much for me over my whole career. If they hadn’t have come along who knows where I’d be.

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Spirit Of Boom is going great at stud. He has been well-received.

It was sad but Sequalo’s passing had probably helped him a bit at stud in his first year. The breeders have really got behind him ... one hundred and fifty four mares and he is ninety percent fertile.

His fertility is outstanding and he is already doing a great job for a Queensland stallion.

All of the stallions up here struggle with the quality of mares that they can attract, but he’s got a good book of mares and he’s going to get his chance.

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A week ago I said Temple Of Boom had more than a bolters chance in the 10 000 0n Saturday.

He continues to improve sharply.

Heading to the Gold Coast I was very reserved about how he was going. I knew I never had him anywhere near where I should have.

He freshened up for the BTC Cup and I thought his run was outstanding. He was three deep. He just blew out the last bit. He’s improved from that to this race again.

I’m sure there’ll be a bit more going to the Stradbroke, as there will be with most of the horses in the 10 000 who are going to the Stradbroke, but he’s in great shape ... and he’s going to need to be.

I’m really happy with him but I’m really disappointed in the barrier but that’s Michael Rodd’s problem now. He’ll have to work that one out.

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Yeah we have made a slight shift with the jockeys, but then we made a slight shift last year when we came back to Queensland and Tegan (Harrison) jumped on him.

I just had a think about it after Temple’s last run. Tegan has done an amazing job on him but the opportunity came for Michael Rodd to come back and I feel he will suit the horse in this race and I’ve just gone a subtle shift again.

The horse has been running terrific for Tegan and there is every chance she will get on him again but for this particular situation I decided to use Michael and we’ll see how it pans out on Saturday.

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Michael’s also on Hijack Hussy for me in the Fred Best Classic where the winner is exempt from the ballot for the Stradbroke. I’ve also got Traveston Girl engaged in that race with Zac Purton in the saddle.

Hijack Hussy ... I’d nearly be certain is heading for the Guineas. If she wins on Saturday she’ll give her owners something to think about but really I think you’ll see her better on these turning tracks over longer distances.

The thing that can bring her unstuck on Saturday is the 1350m.

A Traveston Girl win would give her owners a headache as well. Both fillies are more milers than they are 1400m horses.

They are both in great shape heading towards Saturday and I expect both of them to run well.

Again we’ve had a subtle shift with jockeys. Nobody can argue with using Michael and Zac on the day, but that certainly doesn’t mean the door is not open for Tegan to ride Traveston Girl in the Stradbroke if the horse does win on Saturday.

In fact she will be right in the mix to ride her if Traveston Girl gets there.

Whatever happens it will be an interesting day!

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