Tony Gollan’s spirits remain high despite visit to stewards after The Storeman salutes
THE racing gods continued to smile on Tony Gollan yesterday when The Storeman survived a close protest to win at Eagle Farm.
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THE racing gods continued to smile on Tony Gollan yesterday when The Storeman survived a close protest to win at Eagle Farm.
Gollan was still coming off the high of Spirit Of Boom’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes win on Friday night when The Storeman gained the verdict in a tricky photo finish over the desperately unlucky Star Sammy.
It was very similar to Friday, where observers were split on whether Spirit Of Boom had held off Fontelina at Moonee Valley.
The protest was an even closer call. Though The Storeman did shift ground, stewards deemed Brad Stewart on Star Sammy wasn’t into the run and also that Michael Cahill (Jefferson Park) contributed to Star Sammy’s woes by shifting in.
Gollan lost a protest on Wednesday that he felt would be dismissed, so he wasn’t overly confident in the waiting room as stewards deliberated yesterday.
“This will be my third one for the month,” he said ominously.
But stewards delivered him a surprise in turning down the objection.
The dismissed light signalled the first Saturday city winner for promising apprentice Travis Wolfgram, who had his father Philip in the stewards’ room during the hearing.
“I didn’t think I had won,” Wolfgram said.
Later “team player” Glen Colless still had a hand in Buakaw notching his third Saturday win this campaign, despite watching from the sidelines.
“Glen felt he couldn’t win with 58kg and told us to put an apprentice on,” trainer Matt Dunn said.
“It showed what a team player he is and to Geoff Goold’s credit, he carried out the instructions perfectly.”
Buakaw’s win kept Matt Dunn one win ahead of Gollan in what is shaping as a titanic duel for this year’s Premiership title. Defending titleholder Rob Heathcote is lurking just 3.5 wins adrift.
“We’re hanging in there,” Dunn, who has had significantly less runners than his rivals, said.
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