Nolan aims to make family proud with young horse

‘I’d be proud and excited if he won’: Local trainer hopeful for another successful run at Cowboys race day.

MOUNTING SUCCESS: Michael Nolan will be looking to replicate the success of Archer’s Treasure with Commander Sara this weekend.

HORSE RACING: He’s no stranger to the turf at Allman Park but this Saturday’s race day has more than prize money on the line.

Formally based in Warwick, trainer Michael Nolan said the Cowboys race day was one that excited him in 2019.

“The first time I sponsored a race was last year and the turf club asked if I wanted to do it again,” Nolan said.

“Because I’m Cowboys old boy from the late 80s, I was happy to support the race.”

Nolan isn’t the only family member to have race sponsorship duties, with the Basil Nolan Jnr Memorial race to be contested again.

It’s a race Nolan hopes his three-year-old gelding Commander Sara races well in.

“I would be pretty proud and excited if I won that race after Bazil’s passing in 2018,” he said.

“I didn’t know which race I would sponsor or which one Baz and Di would get but it’s just turned out that way.”

The memorial race will be just the second time Commander Sara has had a race start which Nolan said would add some pressure to the horse.

“He won his only start in Toowoomba by six lengths,” he said.

“But it’s a different ball game when you go out of the maiden and into the class one.

“You think you can win again that easily, but you just hope that they continue to do well.”

Despite high temperatures forecast for Saturday, Nolan expects the track to be in its best possible condition.

“It’s dry and hot everywhere,” he said.

“We were there on Boxing Day and the track was in pretty good shape.

“As long as they’ve kept the water on it, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“I think all of our horses are pretty used to running on the firmer track now.”

Gates open at 11am. Tickets are $20.

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