Tony Gollan says it is Transatlantic’s ‘time to shine’ with Stradbroke Handicap ticket up for grabs in BRC Sprint

Lots of eyes will be on Antino in the Doomben Cup, but Tony Gollan will also be eager to secure a Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket for a galloper he has a high opinion of.

Tony Gollan has declared “now is Transatlantic’s time to shine” as a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket goes up for grabs at Doomben on Saturday.

The champion Queensland trainer has long felt Transatlantic has been an exceptional horse in the making and at times he has felt like he could potentially have a similar early trajectory to Group 1 star Antino.

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Transatlantic will be one of a trio of Gollan runners in Saturday’s Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben, a 1350m affair which offers the winner ballot exemption into next month’s Stradbroke.

With a rating of 99, four-year-old Transatlantic would almost certainly need to win on Saturday to get into the Stradbroke field.

Transatlantic was sent north for his first-up assignment, to Queensland’s beef capital of Rockhampton, where he finished third as a $4.40 chance in the $1m Archer slot race over 1300m.

Gollan said he was far from disappointed with the run, pointing out Transatlantic has never won when first-up.

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By contrast, his second-up record is outstanding and he has never been beaten in three second-up runs.

“I wasn’t disappointed at all with him in The Archer, his first-up record is what it is,” Gollan said.

“It was probably as good a first-up run as he has ever produced and it was in the best grade he has raced in first-up.

“I was happy because he did some work early and just peaked on his run late.

“He is so much better for that run and his second-up stats say it all.”

Transatlantic can book himself a Stradbroke Handicap spot when he races at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

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While plenty of eyes will be on Gollan’s champion Antino in the Group 1 Doomben Cup, getting the job done on Transatlantic and securing a Stradbroke start also takes on huge importance.

Sydney jockey Regan Bayliss, who ventured to Rockhampton to ride Transatlantic, gets the ride again on Saturday and will have to produce some magic from a double-digit barrier.

Gollan said it is time for Transatlantic ($11) to step up and frank his high opinion of him.

“The BRC Sprint is a good horse’s race and I have long felt Transatlantic is a good horse,” Gollan said.

“But he has got to take that step up now and until they do that, the job is far from done.

“Now is his time to shine.

“He is well in at the weights and will roll forward and sit on speed.

“He will be on pace, he can be anywhere in the first three pairs.”

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Gollan also has Freedom Rally and Rockribbed in the BRC Sprint.

Freedom Rally is an elite performer and Rockribbed is a winner, going for three wins in a row.

“Freedom Rally is a bit of a forgotten horse, the Victory Stakes was too short for him off his autumn campaign,” Gollan said.

“He has improved out of sight and getting to 1350m will suit him down to the ground.

“This time last year he was one of the favourites heading towards the Stradbroke, but he didn’t make the field.

“He can definitely bounce back and run a very good race back to this grade.

“Rockribbed is just a winner, he can put himself in a forward position and run well.”

Originally published as Tony Gollan says it is Transatlantic’s ‘time to shine’ with Stradbroke Handicap ticket up for grabs in BRC Sprint