May 30, 2014
By Ross Stanley
It takes just a quick scan of the form guide for Saturday’s Nanango race program to see the inter-relationship that exists between the Burnett and the Darling Downs racing fraternities.
Toowoomba has supplied nine of the final acceptors for the card and when Oakey (7), Texas (3) and Dalby (2) are added in, the west is providing more than a third of the competitors.
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At Lee Park in October 2010, the Sequalo mare Sequisha was 11th of 15 in the Tarong Energy Cup for Tony Gollan’s Toowoomba team, while at the May fixture there three years ago, Rushatus, prepared by Tony’s father Daryll, shed its maiden tag.
Both gallopers were ridden by Kristy Banks, Spirit of Boom’s early educator and successful race day partner.
Over time there have been other ventures into the Burnett and south-east country corner by the Gollans and Banks.
So when the Doomben 10,000 field jumped away last weekend, there was more than passing local interest in the duo dubbed the “Boom Brothers”.
At the wire, Spirit of Boom (Michael Rodd, 6h Sequalo-Temple Spirit) prevailed by a half neck over his stablemate and half-brother Temple of Boom (Tegan Harrison (7g Piccolo-Temple Spirit).
Buffering (Damian Browne, 6g Mossman-Action Annie) was a head away, making it a clean sweep for the home state, the first since 1993 when Unequalled accounted for the Toowoomba-based grey Buck’s Pride and Meg’s Ego.
Gollan’s triumphal march is also inspirational for young, up-and-coming conditioners that kick off with hopefuls in the bush.
Of course, the 35-year-old horseman has been fortunate enough to have the wise and experienced assistance of a father who part-owned Dalrello, the Jim Atkins-trained entire that won the 1975 Doncaster, the George Ryder Stakes, two All-Aged Stakes and seven other black-type offerings.
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The other potent ingredient in the mix has been the long term backing of Eureka Stud’s chiefs Colin and Scott McAlpine, the breeders and major owners of the Boom Brothers.
But the road has been rocky at times. Apparently against paternal advice, the former Queensland Under 19 Rugby League representative player put his head down and went out on his own as a licensed trainer at age 20.
Two years later he ambitiously set up at Eagle Farm and, after his visitor’s permit expired, a disappointing stint ensued at the Gold Coast.
After six months, the lad who had been educated at St Mary’s Toowoomba along with fellow students Stathi Katsidis and Wade Birch, returned to his family’s hometown set up.
In 2003, after taking in the tutelage available from his father and Atkins, Gollan went solo again.
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Before “Temple” and “Spirit” became his godsends, he put the polish on their mother, the very smart Special Dane filly Temple Spirit.
She won a Dalby Maiden for the McAlpines on debut in April 2003 and closed out her term on the turf in December 2004 with a third placing in the Listed Quality event, named in honour of Eureka’s wonderful AJC Oaks-VRC Turnbull Stakes winner Just Now.
The granddaughter of Danehill and Semipalatinsk retired with an 8-4-1 return from just 16 tasks.
Before her death in September 2010, Temple Spirit also dropped two fillies: Gentle Spirit, now in foal to All American, was by Break The Vault, the half-brother by Redoute’s Choice to Zabeel and Baryshnikov, while Just The Spirit, a daughter of Eureka’s Red Dazzler, is in work at present, having recorded a third placing from her only three appearances to date.
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Racing’s wheel continues to roll, and the Gollans won’t be represented at Nanango on Saturday.
But Kristy Banks’ father Graham has an entry with Seagard in the Nanango Veterinary Supplies BM 60 Handicap.
The Oakey conditioner has his own Brisbane Winter Carnival connection that could have been infinitely better given a weight change!
During his apprenticeship in March 1973, he booted home the Hasty Cloud gelding Lucky Cloud in Seventh Division company at Southport before partnering the sprinter through Novice, Transition and Encourage grades.
Michael Aspinall was aboard for the restricted performer’s eye-catching second to Triton in the upmarket Delaney Quality when Banks could not make the weight.
Trainer Norm Higgins had to choose between taking Lucky Cloud with Dusty Sunset north for the Rockhampton Newmarket or staying put, hoping his charge could scrape into Stradbroke.
The gamble to wait paid off brilliantly.
The 45.5kg handicap was impossible for Graham but his brother Alex was the excited strapper when Fred Marsland got the bay home ahead of Bengalla Lad and Lord Nelson.
Lucky Cloud ran third in the Doomben 10,000 behind fellow Queenslanders Craigola (Mick Dittman, 46.5kg) and Charlton Boy.
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Given that there are meetings at the Sunshine Coast on Friday and Saturday, Toowoomba on Sunday and Kilcoy next Thursday, the Nanango Race Club has done well with its line-up for its season-ending Moody Blues and Moleskins themed race day.
There is a healthy swag of Burnett-based gallopers looking to improve on the results of last weekend.
At Roma, James Curtain’s pair Somerset Dawn and Amber Ale did best with second placings while the Glenn Richardson trained Latarno (second) and Golden Cash (fourth) also added to their earnings.
Lionel Richardson’s lodger Lady Oscar picked up fourth money at Beaudesert.
Meanwhile, Nanango Cup winning hoop Beau Appo is on a three-month loan to top Sydney trainer Joe Pride.
Barachello, his mount for the stable, was withdrawn from Canterbury on Wednesday but the 20 year-old Queenslander – seeking his 76th victory – has been engaged for Just As Cosmic and Top Rankin at Rosehill on Saturday.
See you at the races!
- Related article: Full Fields For Nanango Races
