Gollan backs Zarastro to turn it on
Coolmore’s million-dollar cast-off Zarastro was somewhat of a mystery when he arrived at Tony Gollan’s stable.
However, on Saturday he can announce himself as Queensland’s main event should he overcome a car park barrier in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
The former $1.05m yearling was sold online for $32,500 in October 2022, before going on a Queensland winning streak which has netted him more than $400,000 in prizemoney in the space of seven starts.
But, there was a time when the champion trainer had no idea what to expect from him.
Renowned for his free-running style of racing, Gollan once wondered whether Zarastro might be a short course specialist, but he now has no doubts over his ability to see out Saturday’s 1400m Cup.
Gollan says it is all systems go, despite barrier 19, with jockey Angela Jones set to roll forward as she looks to land her biggest prize in the sport.
“He will race in his usual pattern,” Gollan said.
“It’s not the end of the world, he will go forward, I’m not that worried about it.”
While Far Too Easy set tongues wagging with his last
start win, Gollan says it is a different kettle of fish for him coming to the Gold Coast.
“It is a good race, the favourite is a very good horse, a really good horse, I am a bit weather dependent and don’t want it much worse than soft,” he said. “Far Too Easy beat them easily the other day, but this is the Gold Coast, a different kettle of fish, it’s a very tough race. I didn’t have any expectations when Jamie Haimes and Darren Smeath bought this horse, I didn’t know what to expect. He has been unreal.”
Gollan’s one time spruik sprinter Golden Boom also returns from a wind operation in The Syndicate (1100m), in what Gollan says is the perfect kick-off point.
Huge offers from Hong Kong were knocked back for the gelding, before he was beaten at short odds early in the winter.