Temple Of Boom resurfaces in an equestrian version of T20 cricket

THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But you can teach a retired racehorse to become an equestrian star.

THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

But you can teach a retired racehorse to become an equestrian star.

Temple Of Boom gave Brisbane’s leading thoroughbred trainer Tony Gollan his first Group 1 and now could give Gollan’s wife Jane some more magic moments.

Jane Gollan has equestrian in her bloodlines and, with the help of 2004 Athens Olympian Rebel Morrow, is helping to re-educate Temple Of Boom and another former Gollan racehorse Gundy Son.

Gollan is passionate about giving horses an enjoyable life after they retire as racehorses.

And she is a keen supporter of a new event — the Magic Millions Triequithon which will see some of Queensland’s leading event riders battle it out for a prize pool of $10,000 at Doomben on Saturday.

The Triequithon, a shortened format of the Olympic sport of Eventing, will showcase dressage, cross-country and show jumping in a reduced format that has been likened to an equestrian version of T20 cricket.

Jane Gollan, with Rebel Morrow, Gundy Son and Temple of Boom, is passionate about giving horses an enjoyable life after they retire as racehorses. Picture: Lisa Williams

It will be held on the St Ledger Lawn to the right of the Doomben grandstands which will give great access to the public and it will also be broadcast on the big screen.

“I am more than passionate about what we do with our racehorses when they finish on the track,” Jane Gollan said.

“Being a competitive eventer — I see so many of the ex-race horses excelling in their new career and it gives me a buzz seeing them out there.

“It is so magnificent watching my favourite horses compete and perform in my favourite sports of racing and eventing. I am determined to have the racing community realise how wonderful the equestrian sports are.”

Jane with husband trainer Tony Gollan. Picture: Jono Searle

Morrow, who will be one of 12 competitors at the Triequithon on Saturday, said it was not always an easy process retraining a racehorse but it was always fulfilling.

Temple Of Boom has just started learning the ropes in equestrian but Morrow feels he has potential. It is hoped the former Queensland star of the track could be ready for next year’s Triequithon.

Equestrian Queensland chairman David Finch is an enthusiastic supporter of Saturday’s event and hopes it showcases equestrian to the wider public.

“Australia has won more gold medals than any other country since we entered the Olympic sport of Eventing,” he said.

“It is one of those equestrian sports where you can get to the top with a horse off the track and a lot of hard work and will power.”

The Boom brothers: Temple Of Boom (black cap) gets the better of Spirit Of Boom at Eagle Farm in 2014. Picture: Darren England

Originally published as Temple Of Boom resurfaces in an equestrian version of T20 cricket