Man’s chance to atone
LEADING Queensland trainer Tony Gollan is confident A Man To Match will return to a semblance of his best form when he contests the $250,000 The Wave at the Gold Coast today.
A Man To Match looked set for a big campaign when recorded an impressive win at Doomben on November 30 and was far from disgraced when he finished fourth behind The Candy Man at Eagle Farm last start.
Gollan believes A Man To Match didn’t really enjoy the firm Eagle Farm surface last start and he is confident that the High Chaparral gelding, who is an $10 chance with Ladbrokes, will be right in the mix in The Wave (1800m) this afternoon.
“He is the right horse for the race and the conditions are beautiful for him,” the Brisbane trainer said.
“The 1800 metres is ideal, he has had 21 days between runs and his trackwork has been outstanding.
“Last start behind The Candy Man I thought that he was going to run second and I just felt that he felt the ground a little bit late at the Eagle Farm.
“I’ve just always thought that he has never really gone to his top here, so I thought that we would get him to the Gold Coast over a different ground profile. He is right in on ratings … and I think that he is well-placed.”
A Man To Match is joined in The Wave by stablemate Mahis Angel, who finished 10th at Eagle Farm on December 21 in his first start for the Gollan stable.
Gollan admits A Man To Match is his best chance in The Wave but is confident Mahis Angel can produce a better performance than his current odds of $61 with Ladbrokes suggest. “I don’t think his run was that bad the other day,” Gollan said.
“He was three wide with no cover in what was a really messy race. He has been to the Gold Coast before and placed there on that track.
“Getting back to 1800 will really suit him.”
Trevelyan ($5) is a narrow favourite in The Wave from Fun Fact ($6.50), Dawson Diva ($6.50), Etana ($6.50) and Cellarmaid ($7).