SUNSHINE COAST
KNIGHT Mariner represents perhaps the last chance for Tony Gollan to correct an anomaly in what has otherwise been a benchmark year for the premier trainer when he contests Saturday’s Group 3 Winx Guineas.
The Gollan stable has topped $7 million for the first time this season and his 148 winners is a stable record in a year when he became the first trainer in Queensland history to notch a century of metropolitan winners.
But while the stable has won six Listed races, it is yet to nail a Group winner this season, something it has achieved in each of the last four years and six of the last eight.
With this being the last
Group race in Queensland for the season, Knight Mariner’s Guineas tilt takes on added significance.
The son of Tavistock has emerged from obscurity to be a key player in today’s 1600m contest after impressive wins at Doomben and Ipswich.
Gollan has no doubt Knight Mariner has staying potential further down the line, but is hoping the heavy conditions at
Caloundra make the 1600m race a bigger test of stamina.
“He’s very progressive. He seems to have improved again off that last win. His work Tuesday was great and the wet ground is only an advantage to him,” Gollan said.
“My concern is if he gets too far back on a slow speed (but) the end of this Sunshine Coast mile can be tough, it’s uphill late, so I think he will enjoy it.
“This tells us where we’re at right now in his career. I think his price ($5) is right.”
Gollan also has a key chance in today’s other feature, the Glasshouse Handicap, where he hopes Krone can stalk the favourite Soxagon and get him down at the end on ground that he’s sure the mare will relish.
“We were going to wait and go to the Gai Waterhouse.
When the weather looked like it was going to change Steve (Travaglia) from Roll the Dice gave me a call to put in a late nom for this race and I’m glad we did,” Gollan said.
“Her work Tuesday was brilliant. She’s in great shape, she’s sharpened up nicely.
“I think this mare gets a really good chance to get (Soxagon) down if we follow him in the run.”