Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan compares Oakleigh Plate-bound Golden Boom to his champion sire, Spirit of Boom

Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan has paid Golden Boom the ultimate compliment, comparing his Oakleigh Plate-bound star to his champion father Spirit of Boom.

Queensland's leading trainer Tony Gollan has a big opinion of his Oakleigh Plate-bound sprinter Golden Boom. Pictures: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

Brisbane’s leading trainer Tony Gollan has paid Golden Boom the ultimate compliment, comparing his Oakleigh Plate-bound star to his champion father Spirit of Boom.

The ultra-consistent Golden Boom has already amassed more than $1 million in prizemoney in just 18 races (seven wins, eight placing) and Gollan is confident he can mix it with the nation’s best sprinters in the 1100m Group 1 sprint at Caulfield on Saturday.

“You’re always confident with a horse like this,” the champion trainer said.

“He’s just so honest and he never runs a bad race. His distance range is very select – he’s 1000m, 1100m – and his rating now is such that it’s uncomfortable and you’ve got to find the right races for him.

“I’m no stranger to how big a task it is to win an Oakleigh Plate. I just felt he and his ownership group deserved a shot at a race like this.”

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The five-year-old gelding will be up against superstars such as Estriella, Rey Magnerio and I Am Me, who was scratched from last Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes due to a track downgrade at Flemington.

It should be a battle of attrition this Saturday in Melbourne, where a top temperature of 36C and wind gusts up to 35km/hr have been forecast.

Gollan has fond memories of Melbourne after his star gelding Antino secured the $1 million Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in October last year in emphatic fashion.

Golden Boom’s sire is Spirit Of Boom helped launched Gollan’s training career after earning $2.3 million in prizemoney and winning two Group 1s – the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and the Doomben 10,000 in 2014.

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“He was the gift that kept on giving to me,” Gollan said of cult galloper Spirit Of Boom.

“He was great for my career and what we’ve done with his progeny has been quite remarkable.

“Golden Boom is a typical horse like his father – he’s a tough, durable racehorse and I don’t think his best racing is behind him.

“It’ll be a great thrill if we can go down there (to Melbourne) and win another Group 1 with a Spirit of Boom (progeny).”

Golden Boom is coming off a last-start victory in the Listed Goldmarket on the Gold Coast on January 24 and Gollan believes he could have been undefeated over summer with a bit more luck.

Golden Boom holds off Tiger Shark to win the TAB Goldmarket at @GCTurfClub! @[e-mail]/Ta3aRejPUr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 24, 2025

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“He had tie-back surgery a few preps ago and it held him up for a little bit but he seems to be in a really good groove now,” Gollan said.

“As far as the summer goes, he probably really should be unbeaten. He struck a heavy track (on the Sunshine Coast in late November), which he doesn’t like, and then he won (at Eagle Farm).

“Then the races got transferred from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast (because of track issues). Had that meeting been on the Gold Coast he probably wins The Syndicate.”

Golden Boom still finished a narrow runner-up to the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Payline in last month’s $1m The Syndicate and has “settled in really well” at Cranbourne in preparation for the Oakleigh Plate on Saturday.

Damian Lane take a bow! 🙌

Payline EXPLODES along the fence and goes from last to first over the line winning The TAB Syndicate! 🏇@LaneDamian@mmsnippets@[e-mail]/s71HKtHadj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

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Gollan likes the formline based around sharp sprinter Mornington Glory, who pipped Golden Boom in the Listed Norman Carlyon Stakes at The Valley on August 24.

“Look, I’ve got a good, honest, fast speedster. The horse that beat him down there last time (Mornington Glory), it won a Group 1 (the Moir Stakes) straight after that,” Gollan said.

“He deserves an opportunity and he’s a live chance. It’ll be a typical Oakleigh Plate – plenty of fast horses and he’s a fast horse.

“This handicap-style racing probably suits him. He’s handled the travel well and he seems to be in good shape.”

Originally published as Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan compares Oakleigh Plate-bound Golden Boom to his champion sire, Spirit of Boom