Tony Gollan turns to Blake Shinn in bid to win Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket with Boomtown Boss in Fred Best Classic

Blake Shinn and Tony Gollan combined for an exhilarating Group 1 triumph last weekend and they will hopefully unite again for another major mission at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Boomtown Boss will take on the Fred Best Classic on Saturday with a new rider on his back. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Racing’s dream team of Blake Shinn and Tony Gollan could be back in business for another major mission on Saturday.

A week after Antino was a Group 1 Doomben Cup destroyer, the superstar Victorian jockey has been booked for a bid to try to qualify a progressive Gollan three-year-old for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

However, there is a hurdle with Shinn on Tuesday revealing he had sustained a minor injury and would take a step back from riding engagements in coming days.

But he will do everything possible to be riding at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

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Apprentice Emily Lang, who leads the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership race by eight wins, has ridden Boomtown Boss in his last three starts and has ridden the gelding to all four of his career wins.

Boomtown Boss also provided a huge moment in Lang’s young career when she secured her first Stakes winner, riding him to score in the Listed Daybreak Lover in April.

But Shinn, assuming he is fit, gets the job on Saturday as a Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket is offered up for the winner of the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Hi everyone,
Just a quick update – I’ve had to step back from my riding engagements over the next couple of days due to a minor injury, picked up during jump outs at Cranbourne yesterday.
I’m fully focused on my recovery, with the help of RV doctor Ben Barresi. We’re doing…

— Blake Shinn (@blake_shinn) May 27, 2025

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Boomtown Boss had been a winning machine before a wide barrier and stretching out to the 1600m of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas found him out last start.

Gollan thinks back to 1400m is a key and he revealed he would love to give Boomtown Boss a shot at Queensland’s most prestigious race.

“Absolutely, I would love to run him in the Stradbroke if he won on Saturday and pulled up well,” Gollan said.

Tony Gollan and Blake Shinn, assuming he is fit, will join again on Saturday with Boomtown Boss in the Fred Best Classic. Picture: Reg Ryan.

“In the Guineas, he drew wide and went wider on a day where it was a disadvantage to do that.

“A mile was the outer limits of his distance range, for sure, but he is back to the sweet spot of his distance range.

“The 1400(m) at Eagle Farm looks ideal for him. He looks well placed in what is going to be a good race.

“He is a work in progress and he is still doing a fair bit wrong.”

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In TAB’s all-in betting market ahead of the Fred Best Classic barrier draw on Wednesday, Boomtown Boss is a $13 chance.

Hype horse Angel Capital, which will have his first start for Chris Waller since being transferred from Clinton McDonald, is the $3.60 favourite.

Meanwhile, Gollan indicated it was onwards and upwards for Antino after his blockbuster Group 1 win last Saturday.

Antino was allotted 58kg when the Stradbroke Handicap weights were revealed on Monday, but he has been sent for a spell with a Cox Plate spring mission now the priority.

Antino has been sent for a spell before returning for a tilt at the Cox Plate Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Antino is on the second line of Cox Plate betting at $8, with Via Sistina the $2.50 favourite.

Renowned ratings guru Daniel O’Sullivan said of Antino’s Doomben Cup romp: “He clearly stamped himself as the second-best horse in the country (behind Via Sistina). All going well, it shapes as a blockbuster clash between the two in this year’s G1 WFA Cox Plate.”

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Gollan said on Tuesday: “Antino has pulled up great, although he was a bit tired Saturday night after the run which is understandable when you run track record pace.

“He will have a short break, maybe three weeks off, and then we will probably kick him off in the Memsie Stakes.

“What happened last Saturday has definitely sunk in now.

“It’s now all about planning for the next mission.”

Originally published as Tony Gollan turns to Blake Shinn in bid to win Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket with Boomtown Boss in Fred Best Classic