Boom times for Gollan

Pacy three-year-old ‘in the mould of Zoustyle’

CHAMPION trainer Tony Gollan will set Champions Sprint surprise package Baller on a Group 1 Newmarket Handicap campaign in the autumn, but it is a new stablemate that has him daring to dream.

Gollan unveiled Golden Boom at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, and he couldn’t have been more impressive breaking his maiden.

The three-year-old smashed his rivals, and the clock, earning a trip to town as Gollan weighs up where to go next with the gelding. “He gives me a real Zoustyle feel – he has for a while now,” Gollan said.

“He is a lovely animal and I really like him. He’s not the finished product yet, but he has a high cruising speed and can quicken off that.

“He will probably go to the (metropolitan Saturday) Sunshine Coast in two weeks – there is the a 3YO 1000m race, which will be hard not to go to.

“We will work it out from there.”

Zoustyle, who is considered one of the quickest horses in Queensland, went on to win his first six starts in Brisbane before being narrowly beaten in Melbourne at start seven.

The Magic Millions 3YO Classic (1400m) looms large for Golden Boom but Gollan concedes the added distance could prove a bridge too far in what is his first preparation.

“We still have time with him, but we need to get the prizemoney and all those sort of things, ” he said. “He also has to get the distance.”

While the Magic Millions is in his sights for Golden Boom, Baller won’t be seen there, with Gollan saying all roads lead back to Melbourne in the autumn. After winning the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis, the seven-year-old confirmed him-self as a straight-track weapon when he crossed the line with Nature Strip in the $3m Champions Sprint on Saturday.

“I felt he would race the best he ever has going into it, but it was such a good race – probably a stronger race than The Everest – so to do what he did when he was a bit unlucky was a big performance,” Gollan said.

“He is in career-best form; his next year is what he has got ahead of him. If he is going to win a good race, it will be in the next year.

“The straight handicap of the Newmarket in the autumn will probably suit us.”

Gollan also confirmed Zoustyle would not head to Perth, with short-course Group 1 handicaps such as the Oakleigh Plate and Galaxy high on his agenda in the autumn.