Eagle Farm trainer Tony Gollan is expecting a forward showing from Whiskey Allround when he takes on a tough field in the in the Group 3 $125,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Whiskey Allround is to contest the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Gollan has given Whiskey Allround two barrier trials in preparation for his return to Sydney to take on a smart group of three year olds.
“He is nice and fit and forward enough to be competitive in what is a very good field,” Gollan told AAP.
Brisbane leading jockey Michael Cahill will follow Whiskey Allround to Sydney after partnering the All Bar One gelding in his Eagle Farm and Doomben barrier trials.
“Michael Cahill has ridden him in both his trials and likes what he sees early on so he is coming to Sydney to ride him,” Gollan said.
“He decided to stay at home on Saturday rather than go to Melbourne with Temple Of Boom so that is a vote of confidence in Whiskey Allround.”
Cahill declined to travel to Melbourne last weekend to partner Gollan’s smart sprinter Temple Boom who ran a solid second to Broken in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight.
Gollan is confident that Whiskey Allround can regain the form that saw him run second to Sweet Idea in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 2.
The Gai Waterhouse trained filly then went on to finish third to her stablemate Overreach in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6.
Gollan was forced to rule out a Golden Slipper start for Whiskey Allround after finishing a disappointing eighth to Criterion in the Group 2 $300,000 Spotless Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23 and subsequently was found to have muscle soreness following the run.
Gollan is still undecided if Whiskey Allround will remain in Sydney after the San Domenico to run in the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 14 or head to Melbourne for the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
“He’s entered for the Golden Rose but we will take it one race at a time,” Gollan said.
“If it looks as if the 1400 metres might be too far then we can aim him at the Coolmore Stud Stakes in Melbourne.
“There are a lot of options for three-year-olds at this time of year.”
Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep is among the San Domenico nominations which also includes Darley stablemate Kuroshio, Anthony Cummngs’ pair Never Can Tell and Cluster, Gai Waterhouse’s Whittington and Bjorn Baker’s smart colt Windjammer.
