SATURDAY shapes as a pivotal day for Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan when he unveils his exciting team of three-year-olds at Flemington, reports Racing Network.
Gollan will produce unbeaten filly Pienkna and Traveston Girl, a winner of her past two, in the Cap D’Antibes as well as Looks Like The Cat in the Danehill Stakes.
And, Gollan will also run star sprinter Temple Of Boom andAlma’s Fury in the Bobbie Lewis.
Gollan said he would known more after saturday where the three-year-olds fitted into the spring landscape.
Looks Like The Cat, to be ridden by Damian Browne, comes off a photo-finish third behind Alma’s Lad and Brazen Beau in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 7.
While Alma’s Lad and Brazen Beau have already enjoyed plenty of spring headlines, Gollan believes with a slither of luckLooks Like The Cat claims that Group 1.
“With a bit more luck in running and I think he wins the JJ Atkins,” Gollan said.
“And, that’s the only time I think he got out to his best distance and he appreciated the bigger track.
“I think he will really enjoy the straight on the big track. He tends to hit flat spots a little bit around the corner when he was at Doomben.
“He has prepped really well. He’s typical of those horses that have had that winter preparation they hold a bit of residual fitness and he’s coming to Melbourne in good shape.”
Gollan said “greenness” cost Traveston Girl when she was beaten on debut, but she rectified that with back-to-back wins at Eagle Farm and Doomben, the latter by five and a half lengths.
“She is a really nice filly and I’m looking to get out to the 1400 metres and the mile (sic 1600 m). I think that’s where he best distances lie,” he said.
“She is a nice, big striding filly with good gate speed and seems to be able to quicken off it up here in Brisbane.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how she measures up.”
Pienkna, a $200,000 More Than Ready filly, arrives with an unbeaten record with wins at Eagle Farm and Doomben last month.
Gollan said Pienkna didn’t really handle the Heavy 10 when she won her last start at Doomben on August 23.
“She’s got good gate speed, puts herself into the race. It’s a big step up in grade, but I’m also keen to see what she can do,” Gollan said.
The three-year-olds flew to Melbourne last Thursday while Temple Of Boom and Alma’s Fury will fly down tomorrow after they gallop at Eagle Farm.
Temple Of Boom, narrowly beaten in both the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap, is no stranger to the Flemington straight.
He ran second behind Speediness in last year’s Bobbie Lewis as well as the Aurie’s Star and then closed late when fifth in the VRC Sprint Classic behind Buffering.
“He’s in great shape, he’s coming off a career best winter and hopefully that means we’re in for a good spring with him,” Gollan said.