Galaxy winner Temple Of Boom will be advantaged by an expected soft track in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

A slow or heavy track will be an advantage for Temple Of Boom in the Stradbroke - photo © Taron Clarke

Trained by Tony Gollan, the four-year-old boasts a career record of 10 wins from 31 starts and five of those have come on slow or heavy surfaces.

The son of Piccolo will head into Saturday’s $1 million feature sprint on the back of a promising third place effort in the Doomben 10,000 behind Buffering and Sea Siren.

He produced an excellent run without cover in the Doomben 10,000 and Gollan believes he will be more competitive this weekend if he can get cover and conditions to suit.

“If he can get smothered away in the Stradbroke, get covered up, he’s a horse that appreciates being at Eagle Farm and the sting out of the ground,” Gollan said.

“He certainly loves a bit of give out of the ground.”

The talented five-year-old gave Gollan his first Group 1 win in April’s Galaxy at Randwick and the trainer is confident he can produce a good showing this weekend.

“He’s come through his 10,000 run well,” Gollan said.

“He’s in good shape for the weekend…I’m sure he’ll run a good race.”

Eagle Farm manager Bill Shuck said this morning the track was currently rated as heavy but suggested it would most likely fall in the slow range by the weekend.

Temple Of Boom is one of three Gollan-trained horses expected to line up in the Stradbroke with the others being half brother Spirit Of Boom and five-year-old gelding Listen Son.

Spirit Of Boom finished one spot behind Temple Of Boom when fourth in the Doomben 10,000 and will carry just 53kg into Saturday’s main event.

Listen Son will need to turn around some poor form to be competitive after finishing in the back half of the field in his two most recent starts.