Trainer Tony Gollan is confident that onlookers will see a much fitter horse when Temple Of Boom contests the 2015 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Temple Of Boom has not won in Melbourne since he took out the 2011 edition of the Gilgai Stakes. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Temple Of Boom was the best-backed runner in the lead-up to the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 8 and he looked like the winner at the 200 metre mark, but he tired in the final stages of the race and was passed by Burbero and Weary.
Gollan told Racing Ahead that he was happy with the performance of Temple Of Boom in the Missile Stakes and he believes that the veteran sprinter has taken plenty of improvement out of the race ahead of the 2015 Memsie Stakes this weekend.
“We have kept him in Sydney for his build-up to Melbourne, he worked strongly this morning and he has really improved off that first-up run,” Gollan said.
“He will come down tomorrow night and get that on Thursday morning.
“I always thought that he was going to get the couple of leaders down, but he just probably peaked late and the two swoopers got over the top of him.
“I thought his run was good, he had a nice blow and I expect him to be in a lot better shape this weekend.”
Temple Of Boom will be stepping up to 1400 metres for the Memsie Stakes and he is yet to record a win over the distance after finishing eighth in the 2010 Magic Millions Trophy, fifth in the 2012 Stradbroke Handicap, eighth in the 2013 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and a very close second in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap.
Gollan does not believe that Temple Of Boom has any problems running out a strong 1400 metres and he revealed that the extended sprint journey may now be the best trip for the nine-year-old.
“He has only ever got out there pretty much in Group 1 company and he never got to 1400 going through his ranks as a younger horse,” Gollan said.
“His runs in the Stradbroke show that 1400 is certainly not a trip that is beyond him and as a matter of fact I think that as he has gotten older it is probably a better distance for him.”
Temple Of Boom has not had a race start in Melbourne since he finished sixth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) last year and he is chasing his first win in Victoria since his impressive victory in the 2011 Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m).
