Gollan Hoping for Second Boom in Gilgai

Same trainer, same result, different horse.

That is what Tony Gollan is hoping will occur in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday when Spirit Of Boom attempts to emulate the achievement of half-brother Temple Of Boom who took top honours last year.

Spirit Of Boom

Spirit Of Boom will look to emulate half-brother Temple Of Boom and win the Gilgai Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Temple Of Boom will be saved for Saturday week’s Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) but Gollan is confident the younger stablemate can fill the void this weekend.

“He’s going great guns,” Gollan said.

“He had a good gallop in Melbourne this morning and the comment was that he’s really come on in between runs.

“I’m as confident as I can be given the quality of the field.”

Among the top rivals the Queenslander faces on Saturday are McEwen Stakes winner Bel Sprinter and Peter Moody-trained pair King’s Rose and Mid Summer Music.

“It’s a really competitive field but he’s definitely going into the race ready,” Gollan said.

Spirit Of Boom showed a similar liking for the Flemington straight as his older brother when finishing second by a head to We’re Gonna Rock in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) last month.

The son of Sequalo then made a Sydney detour for the Group 2 Shorts (1200m) where he finished fourth but ran home strongly from a wide barrier draw.

Gollan said he was pleased with both runs but is expecting the horse to lift to another level this weekend.

“The run in Sydney was good from a wide barrier and obviously he went well down the straight first-up,” he said.

“He’s back down the straight again and he’s definitely the best he’s been this preparation.”

Michael Walker rode Spirit Of Boom in the Bobbie Lewis and he will return to the saddle this weekend.

Temple Of Boom also galloped this morning and will trial on Friday ahead of the Schillaci Stakes where he faces a possible showdown with fellow Queensland sprinter Buffering.

The in-form stable have picked up former Mount Isa galloper Jabiru Dreaming who won nine consecutive races in North Queensland before finishing fourth to the Gollan-trained Too Many Reds on metropolitan debut at Doomben last month.

The five-year-old will step out for Gollan for the first time on Saturday in a No Metro Wins handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

“His last run was good, he ran fourth to Too Many Reds who is flying and they are going to have to be good to beat him on Saturday,” Gollan said.

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