Trainer Tony Gollan has confirmed that Temple Of Boom will back-up in the 2014 Sebring Stakes this weekend after finishing sixth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens last weekend.
Temple Of Boom will be chasing his first race win in two years when he contests the Sebring Stakes on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Temple Of Boom was well-backed in the lead-up to The Galaxy and Gollan was confident that the Piccolo gelding would finish in the placings, but he was unable to play a factor in the finish and was found to have swallowed mud during the run.
Gollan told Racing Ahead this morning that Temple Of Boom had recovered quickly from the problem and said that he is on track to contest the Group 3 Sebring Stakes over 1200 metres this weekend.
“At this stage he will,” Gollan said.
“Unfortunately he swallowed a bit of mud on Saturday, but he overcame that very quickly, ate up well Saturday night and hasn’t left a grain of feed.
“He has come out of the run better than he went into it.
“Hughie (Bowman) is keen to ride him again.
“We were quiet confident going into last weekend’s race and really disappointed with the outcome, so hopefully we can go a lot better this Saturday.”
One of the major reasons that Temple Of Boom was so well-backed heading into The Galaxy was the wet Rosehill Gardens track and Gollan is hopeful that the Group 1 winner will get another opportunity on a rain affected surface this weekend.
Temple Of Boom will carry the top-weight of 59 kilograms in the Sebring Stakes, but with only a five kilograms spread in the weights, Gollan is confident that the seven-year-old is a genuine winning chance in the Group 3 event this weekend.
“There is a bit of rain forecast there Thursday, Friday and Saturday so I guess it all depends on what happens with the weather,” Gollan said.
“That is one of the other major reasons we have decided to back up.
“There doesn’t look like being a lot of weather in the leap-up to the T.J. and it will be such a strong Group 1 race.
“This looked a pretty suitable option provided the horse was in good shape and he looks in really good condition to run.”
Temple Of Boom will face a strong field in the Sebring Stakes this weekend; with Golden Rose Stakes placegetter Bull Point, consistent sprinter Flamberge and the resuming Hot Snitzel set to contest the $150,000 race.
