Trainer Tony Gollan has confirmed that Temple Of Boom is likely to contest the 2015 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday rather than the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.
Temple Of Boom will have the chance to return to winning form in the Missile Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Temple Of Boom was originally set to start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival in the Aurie’s Star Handicap and he was included in the nominations for the race that were released yesterday, but Gollan opted to also nominate the veteran sprinter for the Missile Stakes after the nominations were extended by 24 hours.
Gollan said that he was surprised with how weak the original nominations for the Missile Stakes were and he told Sky Racing HQ this morning that the Group 1 winner was now likely to remain in Sydney for the Group 2 event.
“He is stabled there at Randwick at the moment with the Snowdens looking after him and when the noms came up so short we decided to put the late nom in,” Gollan said.
“We are thinking very seriously about running him in Sydney now.
“Usually the Missile comes up with a lot more depth in it than this year’s one and we thought we would look to the handicaps in Melbourne and maybe sneak into a weight-for-age race over a little bit further, but it has come up like a race that is suitable for him to kick-off in.
“I just want to have a look at the final lot of horses that are put it into it and I would say that he is a 90 percent chance to run at Randwick.
“At this stage we haven’t done anything specific, but there is a good chance that Winona Costin could end up partnering the horse.”
Temple Of Boom was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished a credible fourth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) in Brisbane on June 6 and following his quick break he was sent to Sydney to begin preparations for his spring campaign.
He made the first public appearance of his preparation when he finished second behind Himalaya Dream in a barrier trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on July 21 before he led from start to finish to take out a barrier trial over 840 metres at Royal Randwick on July 31.
Gollan said that Temple Of Boom had come out of both barrier trials in excellent condition and the Brisbane-based trainer is happy with his favourite galloper heading into his racing return.
“He has come through it really well,” Gollan said.
“I spoke to Paul and Peter in the last few days and he is in really good shape.
“He is a pretty push button horse and he did a little bit of maintenance work this morning, but last Friday is the most serious piece of work that he has done leading into this weekend’s racing.
“This week is just about keeping him healthy, happy and bouncing around.”
Temple Of Boom has not raced in Sydney since he finished sixth in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens in April last year.
