If the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm comes down to a dogfight, Tony Gollan knows who he'd like to be on.The Toowoomba trainer will saddle up his first Group One runner, Listen Son, in Saturday's 1400-metre feature and believes his tough four-year-old can cause an upset.Listen Son is a $26 outsider in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap but Gollan isn't taking any notice of the TAB Sportsbet odds.The son of Big Jesse led at his past two starts, going down narrowly to Woorim in the Gr

If the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm comes down to a dogfight, Tony Gollan knows who he'd like to be on.

The Toowoomba trainer will saddle up his first Group One runner, Listen Son, in Saturday's 1400-metre feature and believes his tough four-year-old can cause an upset.

Listen Son is a $26 outsider in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap but Gollan isn't taking any notice of the TAB Sportsbet odds.

The son of Big Jesse led at his past two starts, going down narrowly to Woorim in the Group Three BTC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben before finishing fourth to Varenna Miss in the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm last week.

Gollan, who turned his back on a promising rugby league career, is happy with the rails draw but warns the gelding doesn't have to lead.

"I suppose barrier one is better than 23 but I wanted to draw in," Gollan said.

"The good thing with his alley is if they do run along he won't have to lead.

"In the first half of his recent races he's been put under a lot of pressure in front and was still there fighting at the end.

"I've never had a Group One runner and I have no fears about him running 1400 metres.

"His blood count came back perfect yesterday so if it comes down to a dogfight he'll be right there."

Gollan hasn't been surprised with the rapid transition Listen Son has made over the past 12 months.

In that time he's graduated from second-tier races last winter to the top level this season.

"It doesn't surprise me to see him running in a Stradbroke," Gollan said.

"One of his best runs was when he ran second to Zero Rock in the (Listed) Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben in December.

"He took a sit that day and settled well off the speed and really gave it to Zero Rock."

Zero Rock will again be one of Listen Son's main rivals in the Stradbroke.

Trainer Kelso Wood also hoped for a good barrier for Zero Rock who has been forced to lead from wide barriers at her pasttwo starts, when runner-up in the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben and Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm.

However, Zero Rock drew 14 but will jump from barrier 12 if the emergencies come out.

Wood has only ever had one horse good enough to run in a Stradbroke Handicap.

His former star sprinter Unequalled ran in three consecutive Stradbrokes from 1992 to 1994 but didn't finish closer than ninth to Rough Habit in his first attempt.

"The year Unequalled won the Doomben 10,000 (1993) he suffered a foot injury and went into the Stradbroke without having a run for four weeks," Wood said.

"I thought that year was his best chance to win a Stradbroke but he never went any good and finished well back. If he had been right he would have been a big chance."

Wood has no reservations about backing up Zero Rock seven days after her courageous Dane Ripper Stakes effort.

"I can't believe how well she's come through her last run," he said.

"I wanted a good barrier but she'll come into 12 so it's not the end of the world."

Zero Rock and rivals Beaded, Alverta and Culminate will be aiming to become the first mare to win the Stradbroke since Capris was successful in 1936.