Tony Gollan’s top stable sprinters Most Important and I’m A Rippa sit at the top of the weights for the Listed $150,000 Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Most Important, above with white sleeves and yellow cap, will carry the top weight in the Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Lough Neagh Stakes has received fifteen nominations and Most Important has been installed as the top weight with 60.5kg while I’m A Rippa is next in line with 58.5kg.
Most Important and I’m A Rippa are heading on the same Summer Carnival path and have already clashed twice this preparation with the spoils being evenly divided.
Most Important took an early advantage over his stablemate with a first up win in the Listed $125,000 Keith Noud Quality (120m) at Doomben on November 17 with I’m A Rippa finihing in third position but the result was then reversed when the pair clashed in the Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben a fortnight later when I’m A Rippa led all of the way with Most Important filling the runner’s up stall.
Gollan has reported that both sprinters have pulled up well after the George Moore Stakes and are on track for their assignments on Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast on January 12.
“Most Important and I’m A Rippa both pulled up well after their last runs,” Gollan told Racing Queensland’s News Desk.
“Both are on the right path this summer for their main assignments.
“I’m A Rippa got a better run than Most Important in the George Moore and I’m expecting both to run very well again.
“But this is a much harder race to win for both on their ratings.
“The barriers and weather will play a big part.”
Gollan has also nominated Gold Symphony for the Lough Neagh Stakes who is weighted with 55.5kg while the Matt Dunn trained Care To Think has been given 58kg and Niccanova is chasing a hat trick of wins with 57kg on his back.
Gollan will be looking for some improvement from Gold Symphony who has had only one run for the stable for an eleventh to Niccanova in the Listed Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on November 24.
