Trainer Tony Gollan has his stable firing on all cylinders and another feature race win is looming at Doomben on Saturday with race favourite Traveston Girl in the Listed $100,000 Brisbane Handicap (1640m).
Gollan provided the trifecta in last week’s Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben with Didntcostalot leading all the way for Tegan Harrison to beat stablemates Gundy Spirit and Fontelina.
Harrison was also aboard Traveston Girl in her all the way win in the Listed $100,000 Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Doomben a fortnight ago and will be aboard the $3.20 favourite again.
Top weight Hopfgarten has returned from an unsuccessful Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign and bookies have installed him as the second pick at $4.80.
But the Robert Heathcote trained five year old has several hurdles to overcome if he is to return to the winner’s list for the first time since March.
Hopfgarten has been allocated 59kg as opposed to Traveston Girl’s 54kg and Victoria’s State Of Origin jockey Craig Williams will have to be at his best to overcome barrier twelve from the tricky ‘mile’ start in the fourteen horse field.
Traveston Girl’s stablemate Best Of The Rest and Toowoomba trained four year old Jumbo Prince are the only other runners under $10, sharing the third line of betting at $8.
Best Of The Rest with Jim Byrne in the saddle has drawn better at seven this week after jumping from gate thirteen last start when seventh to Traveston Gilt in the Recognition Stakes.
But Michael Cahill will be busy in the first 200m looking to slot into the field in the short run to the first turn after Jumbo Prince came up with barrier ten.
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary has ventured north again with Landlocked who has come to Queensland on the back of a third in the $100,000 Goulburn Cup (1600m) on November 22.
Landlocked will jump from the inside gate with Robbie Fraar in the saddle and has eased slightly to share the next line of betting at $10 with the Team Meagher trained Shotover River.
Shotover River scored a hat trick of wins over 2200m at Doomben during the Winter months and resumed from a spell for a first class second to Traveston Girl in the Recognition Stakes.
Apprentice Luke Dittman is in the saddle again and the six year old will jump from gate six.
As well as Traveston Gilt and Best Of The Rest, Gollan will also saddle up new stable acquisition First Bloom, who has firmed in from $26 to $16, and Trakstar who is one of the outsiders of the field at $34.
Heathcote will also saddle up $21 chance Bewhatyouwannabe while Team Meagher’s second runner, Revitalise, is also one of the roughies at $61.