Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is hoping that consistent sprinter Spirit Of Boom will receive some luck in running when he chases his maiden Group 1 victory in the 2014 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington tomorrow.
Spirit Of Boom is chasing his first race win since he took out the Caulfield Sprint during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Spirit Of Boom has received no luck in his past two starts; finishing fourth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) after receiving a check at the 600 metre mark at Ascot last year before starting his autumn campaign with a fast-finishing second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22, despite being blocked for a run.
Gollan was happy with the first-up run of Sprit Of Boom and believes that the Sequalo entire is a genuine winning chance in the Newmarket Handicap if he can receive clear running in the final stages of the race.
“I think he’s well enough weighted, providing he can get luck in running, to be really competitive on Saturday,” Gollan told AAP.
“It’s a matter of from the 300-metre mark to home getting a clean, uninterrupted run.
“If he can get that, he’ll plant himself right in the finish.”
Gollan revealed last month that Spirit Of Boom is likely to be retired to stand at stud after running in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 and the Toowoomba-based trainer would love to see his star galloper finish his career with a win at the highest level to his name.
Fellow Queensland sprinter Buffering showed that it is possible to breakthrough for a Group 1 win after a series of near misses, but Gollan admits that deserving a Group 1 victory is not enough to get you home on raceday.
“I can’t remember the last time he ran a bad race, that’s how well he’s been racing,” Gollan said.
“He was very good in all his runs in the spring and was completely luckless in Perth when he nearly got put over the inside fence.
“He probably deserves a Group One but unfortunately deserving one and getting one are two different things.”
Spirit Of Boom is currently available at 2014 Newmarket Handicap odds of $15; with talented mare Samaready ($4.60) and last year’s winner Shamexpress ($4.60) battling for favouritism, while Oakleigh Plate winner Lankan Rupee has drifted to a quote of $5.
