Tony Gollan expects Salmanazar to continue on his merry way

TONY Gollan expects Salmanazar to handle the step up to city grade today but has still labelled Heart Of A Warrior his best chance of a winner at Ipswich.

Heart Of A Warrior (left) is Tony Gollan’s best chance at Ipswich today. Pic Jono Searle.

TONY Gollan expects Salmanazar to handle the step up to city grade today but has still ­labelled Heart Of A Warrior his best chance of a winner at ­Ipswich.

Gollan has a host of runners across the Ipswich program and has two of the major fancies – Dee Nine Elle ($3.60) and Salmanazar ($3.80) – engaged in the TL Cooney Handicap (1350m).

Queensland’s premier trainer feels there is little between the pair but admits he is looking forward to seeing what Salmanazar can produce on the city stage after notching consecutive wins by big margins in provincial company this campaign.

“They are both nice horses for this race but I think Salmanazar has a lot of upside about him,” Gollan said.

“It’s not that Dee Nine Elle is not going well and she is a ­really honest filly that I’m sure she will keep getting better going into this next season.

“But he is a bit of a horse this other bloke and he just gives you a good feel and I think he might be something all right as we get on.”

Dee Nine Elle has drifted from $3.20-$3.60 since betting opened on Wednesday, while Salmanazar has firmed from $6.50-$3.80 with UBET.

“I don’t think the market has it too wrong on their form but we see these nicely bred three-year-olds that are lightly raced and can improve and Salmanazar has to do that (today),” Gollan said.

“He has showed me nothing to suggest that he won’t but it is always nice to see them do it.

“They both should run well and they are both good chances.”

Gollan will saddle up consistent miler Heart Of A Warrior and Brazen Moss in Race 1 but said the latter may wait for a race at Doomben on Wednesday instead.

Heart Of A Warrior has been freshened since notching a gutsy third in the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on May 14 and looks ready to strike in the Ipswich Mile.

“His form profiles well for a race like this and he is fit and healthy and he is good around Ipswich,” Gollan said.

Gollan also gave a good push for Skylimit in the Ipswich Dash (1100m) and rated Amexed an each-way chance in the Provincial Stayers Series Final (2150m).

“It is a good little Class 6 Plate but he is a nice horse Skylimit and I’ve got a bit of time for him,” Gollan said.

“He just went too hard first-up off a long break.

“I would be surprised if he wouldn’t be a proper Saturday city horse in this period coming up.

“I haven’t got Amexed going this good for a while but he missed a run and he might blow out the last 100m or 50m.”