A Group 2 placing in the Autumn has convinced trainer Tony Gollan to return to Sydney to chase some of the Spring Carnival riches with his smart youngster Whiskey Alllround.
Whiskey Allround will head back to Sydney for the Spring Carnival. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Gollan took Whiskey Allround to Sydney with a record of three wins from three starts, one at Toowoomba and two at Eagle Farm and immediately made an impression with a narrow second to Golden Slipper placegetter Sweet Idea in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 2.
Whiskey Allround then ran down the track when eighth to Criterion in the Group 2 $300,000 Spotless Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23 and connections decided to miss the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) and head to the paddock.
A barrier trial at Eagle Farm tomorrow will give Gollan a clearer idea where to head in the Spring with plenty of options including the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 17.
“Obviously there are races like the San Domenico we’ll look at in Sydney or we may take our time with him and head straight to Melbourne,” Gollan said.
“I’m really happy with him and all the indications from his trackwork are very good.”
Stablemates Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom will also head south for the Spring.
Spirit Of Boom is likely to resume in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 21 while Group 1 winner Temple Of Boom will head to Melbourne looking for some soft tracks at the beginning of the Spring Carnival.
“It’s critical for an old horse like him to find nice, soft going and hopefully when we get to Melbourne he’ll have the sting out of the tracks,” Gollan said referring to his Group 1 winner.
Gollan will race Spirit Of Boom sparingly through the Spring and travel to Perth for the Summer Carnival in a second attempt to win the Group 1 $500,000 Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot after finishing third to Barakey last year.
“I’ll keep his races spaced and his last run in Melbourne will be the Salinger then three weeks into the Winterbottom in Perth which will be his grand final,” Gollan said.
