Didntcostalot the best of Gollan’s 2 in Victory Stakes

The front running Didntcostalot looks the best of Tony Gollan’s two runners in the Group 2 $200,000 National Fire Industry Association QLD Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Didntcostalot is one of 2 runners for trainer Tony Gollan in the Victory Stakes at Doomben.  Photo by Daniel Costello.

Didntcostalot is one of 2 runners for trainer Tony Gollan in the Victory Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Gollan will also saddle up Fontelina as he attempts to win the Victory Stakes for the second time in three years after quinellaing the race in 2014 with Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom.

Tegan Harrison rode $41 outsider Temple Of Boom when he beat his more fancied stablemate and she will be aboard Didntcostalot on the weekend.

“I won the Victory Stakes with Temple Of Boom two years ago and he beat a class field. This year is no different,” Gollan told AAP.

Didntcostalot has won four races for Gollan since being transferred from Sydney trainer Marc Connors, twice over this course and distance and Gollan said that he had set the seven year old for the Victory Stakes after his last start sixth to Husson Eagle in the $1m Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.

“I have set Didntcostalot for the Victory Stakes since his last start in January when he was a good sixth in the Magic Millions Sprint,” Gollan said.

“He ran 1.8.17 seconds when he won the George Moore Stakes at his previous start and that is a very smart time.

“If he gets anywhere near that time on Saturday they will be flying to catch him.”

Didntcostalot showed a clean set of heels when he raced away to score a three and a half lengths win over the same course and distance as the Victory Stakes in the Group 3 $200,000 Channel 7 George Moore Stakes in November and Harrison is certain to adopt the same tactics from the inside gate this week.

Jim Byrne will continue his association with Fontelina and although Gollan expects him to race well, he admits that the seven year old might find this field a bit slick for him first up.

“This is a nice race for Fontelina to start his winter campaign,” Gollan said.

“I think there are some good races for him later in the carnival.

“They might be a bit sharp for him on Saturday but he is going along nicely.”

The in-form Fell Swoop has been performing well at Group 1 level over the Autumn Carnival with two placings and a fourth from his last three starts and heads the market order for the Victory Stakes at $1.55 with Ladbrokes.com.au.

Trainer Matt Dale has the Canberra sprinter racing in outstanding with a nose second to Flamberge in the Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, a fourth to Griante in the Group 1 $700,000 Banjo Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill and a second to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.

New South Wales sprinter Artlee is the second pick in the betting at $6 just ahead of the John O’Shea trained Knoydart at $6.50 with Didntcostalot marked at $7.50 while Fontelina is at the double figure odds off $20.

Victory Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.55 Fell Swoop, $6 Artlee, $6.50 Knoydart, $7.50 Didntcostalot, $18 Famous Seamus, $20 Fontelina, $51 Pinch River, $61 Rock Royalty.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.