Tuesday 7 February 2012

Gollan has Temple primed for Lightning

By Glenn Davis

The Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week is shaping as one of the best for some time but it's not causing any angst for Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan.

Gollan is hopeful Temple Of Boom can continue his great Flemington record in the 1000-metre feature which will also see fellow Queenslander Buffering tackle star sprinters Hay List and three-year-old Foxwedge.

Trainer Jason McLachlan has also nominated Facile Tigre and Phelan Ready for the Lightning Stakes but will give the pair a jumpout at Flemington on Friday before deciding if either will resume in the race.

Foxwedge, runner-up to Sepoy in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in the spring, and Temple Of Boom will also have jumpouts on Friday.

Gollan sounded an ominous warning to his Lightning Stakes rivals by declaring Temple Of Boom has never been in better order.

"He's settled in well this time, better than any previous occasion he's been down there," Gollan said.

"He hasn't missed a beat and is becoming an old hand at travelling."

Temple Of Boom, whose only other autumn run in Melbourne will be the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10, will be ridden by Danny Nikolic in the Lightning Stakes.

Temple Of Boom will then head home to Brisbane for the weight-for-age Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in April but could divert to Sydney on his way back for the Group One The Galaxy if the Randwick track is rain affected.

Gollan is still keeping his options open regarding a trip to Dubai in March with Temple Of Boom.

"He's nominated for an 1100-metre race in Dubai on March 31 but he's unlikely to go unless he wins the Lightning or Newmarket," Gollan said.

Temple Of Boom has an excellent straight course record at Flemington with three wins, a third in the Group Two Salinger Stakes and sixth in the Bobbie Lewis.

The five-year-old has not started since finishing third to Sister Madly in the Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October.

Meanwhile, McLachlan is looking forward to Facile Tigre and Phelan Ready tackling the plum autumn races.

McLachlan is rapt in both sprinters, particularly Facile Tigre who he feels has come of age this campaign.

Facile Tigre started three times during the spring finishing second at Caulfield in September before winning over 1200 metres at Caulfield in October prior to his victory in the Listed MSS Security Sprint at Flemington in November.

Phelan Ready, winner of the 2009 Magic Millions Classic and Group One Golden Slipper Stakes, started four times in Melbourne last campaign with his best effort a third in the Listed Testa Rossa (1200m) at Caulfield in September.

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