Tony Gollan achieved his long held ambition to train a Group 1 winner in front of his home crowd when Spirit Of Boom claimed the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
In a stirring finish Spirit Of Boom downed his older half brother Temple Of Boom by a half neck in the famous 1350-metre feature.
Buffering provided an all Queensland finish by filling the minor placing only a half neck away.
Gollan’s Doomben 10,000 victory was his third win at top level after Temple Of Boom won the 2012 The Galaxy while Spirit Of Boom was successful in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March.
“This is a dream come true. I’m gobsmacked,” Gollan said.
“Training a Group 1 winner here in front of my home crowd is amazing. I’m stuck for words.
“It’s been a really good day and all my family is at home watching on television.
“He’s a six-year-old stallion – brave and gallant.”
Spirit Of Boom has been syndicated to stand at Eureka Stud next breeding season and is expected to bow out after the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7.
However, Gollan hinted the Doomben 10,000 could have been his final race although passing up a chance at another win at elite level looks too irresistible.
“We’ll see what the weights look like for the Stradbroke first and it would be a dream farewell,” Gollan said.
Spirit Of Boom’s victory also was a dream result for jockey Michael Rodd who rode his first Group 1 winner as an apprentice aboard Prized Gem in the 2002 Brisbane Cup.
“This race has been a dream of mine since I came here as a kid when I used to go to the races to watch the 10,000 with my former boss, Bryan Guy,” Rodd said.
“He’s flying and just needed some luck which he got today (Saturday).”
The Boom Brothers have now won a combined $3.6 million with 20 wins including three Group 1’s.
– Racing Queensland
