Feature spring carnival sprint races beckon star Toowoomba sprinter Temple of Boom following his emphatic win in Sat's $151,000 Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington. The win was the second at Melbourne's best known racecourse in two attempts for Temple of Boom, but the first for New Zealand's champion apprentice James McDonald. McDonald had Temple of Boom ($7.50-$9-$8) within striking distance for much of the race before the pair burst to the front with about 300 metres to run
Feature spring carnival sprint races beckon star Toowoomba sprinter Temple of Boom following his emphatic win in Sat's $151,000 Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington. The win was the second at Melbourne's best known racecourse in two attempts for Temple of Boom, but the first for New Zealand's champion apprentice James McDonald. McDonald had Temple of Boom ($7.50-$9-$8) within striking distance for much of the race before the pair burst to the front with about 300 metres to run.
The result was never in doubt as he cruised home to beat Rekindled Interest ($8-$13) by three parts of a length. Offenders ($6-$8.50-$7) was the best of the rest, a further half length back, while the favourite Perturbo ($2.50-$3.20) a similar margin away in fourth place.
Temple of Boom, now the winner of eight of his 22 runs, has earned over $680,000 - not bad considering he cost just $40,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
"He's 100 per cent here (at Flemington) let's hope it continues through the carnival," trainer Tony Gollan said. "When we brought him here last year for the 1100 it looked like he would get the 1200...We told James to ride him to get the 1200 and he did it well...We intend to keep him here in Melbourne and look at these sort of races - but we'll see how he's going when the real big carnival is around and we might look at a race like the Salinger.'