Spirit Of Boom Could Not Be Better Ahead Of Winterbottom Stakes

Trainer Tony Gollan is confident that he could not have Spirit Of Boom in any better condition ahead of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Tony Gollan is delighted with Spirit Of Boom ahead of the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot this weekend.

Trainer Tony Gollan is delighted with Spirit Of Boom ahead of the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Spirit Of Boom has had a strong 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and Gollan told Racing Ahead this morning that the son of Sequalo had handled the flight to Perth well and has performed strongly in his final pieces of trackwork.

“He is really good and he travelled great,” Gollan said.

“He is in really good condition for Saturday’s race.

“He did most of his work at Flemington on the Saturday before he left and last Tuesday.

“His work was really good and he seems to be right on top of his game.

“I don’t think that we could have any better and he is certainly going better than he was last year.

“His whole prep has been better and he has come here with a couple of less races under his belt.”

Sprit Of Boom will have his final piece of trackwork, before the Winterbottom Stakes, at Ascot tomorrow morning but Gollan said that he will not be asking the six-year-old to do too much ahead of his 12th tilt at Group 1 level.

“He is in good shape and he will do his last piece of work tomorrow,” Gollan said.

“He doesn’t have to do too much, we have him where we want him now and it is just a matter of good luck on the day and he should be in with a chance.

“It is just a bit of maintenance so that he isn’t too fresh going into Saturday’s race.

“He will just do a bit of three quarter work, stay on the bridle and sprint home.”

Spirit Of Boom finished an unlucky third in the Winterbottom Stakes last year but has had a far stronger lead-up to the 2013 edition of the race; winning the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) and finishing in the placings in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m), Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m).

Gollan believes this has been the perfect preparation for his star galloper and is confident that he can record his maiden Group 1 victory, which is vital for his future career at stud, this weekend.

“It is three weeks between runs at the end of what has been a solid prep,” Gollan said.

“I think that it is ideal for him and I think we have him in top condition.”

Spirit Of Boom is currently on the fourth line of 2013 Winterbottom Stakes betting markets, behind Buffering ($2.30), Barakey ($4.40) and Moment Of Change ($7).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.