Temple Of Boom accepts in 9 horse Missile Stakes

Trainer Tony Gollan has elected to kick off veteran sprinter Temple Of Boom’s Spring Carnival in the Group 2 $175,000 McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Apprentice Winona Costin will ride Temple Of Boom, above, in the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Apprentice Winona Costin will ride Temple Of Boom, above, in the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The premiership winning trainer has originally selected the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington this weekend as Temple Of Boom’s Spring starting point.

But when the Missile Stakes’ nominations only attracted six horses, Gollan had a change of heart and threw in a late entry.

“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,” Gollan told Sky Racing HQ.

“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.”

Temple Of Boom is one of nine horses in the final list of acceptances for the Missile Stakes and has drawn barrier two with apprentice Winona Costin to ride.

Chris Waller elected not to accept with late nom Royal Descent and will only have one runner in Weary.

Jockey Glyn Schofield had the mount on the grey when second to Pornichet in the Group 1 $650,000 The Bundaberg Rum Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival and has retained the ride in the Missile Stakes.

Weary’s normal pattern of racing is to get back in the field and that looks to be the case again after drawing the outside gate.

The Team Hawkes trained Messene had an easy trial on Tuesday when third to Heart Testa over 900m at Rosehill with race jockey Tommy Berry in the saddle and will back up on Saturday.

Messene can race in the front or mid field and Berry will have plenty of options from barrier three.

“He is a genuine weight-for-age horse at the right distance,” Berry said.

“Whatever he does Saturday he will improve but this horse does race well fresh.’’

Burbero (barrier six) is going into the Missile Stakes with one run under his belt and trainer Bjorn Baker has also elected to go with claiming apprentice Brodie Loy in a non-claiming race.

Baker will also saddle up Zaratone who will jump from barrier four with Kathy O’Hara taking the mount.

Gai Waterhouse and former stable number one rider Nash Rawiller are teaming up again with Liberty’s Choice (barrier five) who will strip fitter for a first up fourth to Rugged Cross in the Listed $100,000 Sydney Markets Limited Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on July 18.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.