Tony Gollan has what he believes are three good hopes in his bid to win the Gold Coast Goldmarket for a fifth time this weekend.
Gollan won the most recent running of the race with Snitch, to add to previous wins with Raido, Gundy Son and his dual Group 1 winner Spirit Of Boom.
His trio engaged this year aren’t in the Spirit Of Boom class, but the trainer believes they are good enough to give the race a real shake.
The proviso is that he wants the track to improve into the Soft range for each of those runners; Capital Connection, Macewen and Baller.
The latter is a newcomer to the stable and Gollan has been taken with his improvement over recent weeks, which included an impressive jumpout win to back up his trial success.
“I was sweating on drawing a gate, we’ve done that. He doesn’t want it heavy by the look of his form. I think soft will be quite okay,” Gollan said on his weekly Final Gallop preview.
“He’s improved, improved, improved. His work Tuesday was great.
“He can find a spot just behind this speed and he’s a really good chance.”
He said Capital Connection would not be handing up to Racecourse Road like he did last time and he’s happy to let him roll in front.
“He presented to win and just blew out. I won’t be handing up this time,” he said.
“When he springs I’m happy to let him roll along at 1200m. He’s in good order, very fit and I can see him racing well.
“(Macewen) was very good at the jumpouts. We’ve freshened him up with this race in mind.
“They will hook along a bit and I can see him being strong to the line.
“He’s got a good record at the Gold Coast.
“He will be buried back midfield and I can see him tracking up to the corner and letting go. If he can get soft ground he can run way better than his odds.”
Gollan’s theme of the day is that he wants the track to improve well into the Soft range for most of his runners.
These include Sugar Boom, who will not run in the Bat out of Hell if the track remains heavy and could even be doubtful on a Soft 7.
He’s tipped Good Soize to appreciate stepping up to 1800m in the Bracelet, but just fears her barrier might see her too far back in the run.
“This race is a different dynamic to Doomben and I see a lot more pressure in this race,” he said.
“I would have preferred to draw a better barrier, but we’re probably going to be in the back half of the field. I can see her closing off the race well, she just needs to have that luck in running.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
