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Gollan claims third straight Lough Neagh Stakes

16 December 2017

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tony Gollan celebrated a big day out at Doomben with his third straight win in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes with Most Important.

Gollan has been a dominant force in Brisbane’s summer carnival in recent years and won the previous two Lough Neagh Stakes with Fontelina and Most Important.

Gollan trained four winners on the day including the two feature juvenile races with Ef Troop in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes and Outback Barbie in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.

“I came here today with a really strong team and it’s fantastic when things go to plan,” Gollan said.

“He got a lovely run and was so tough.

“I was really keen on his chances after his fourth in the (Group 3) George Moore Stakes.”

Gollan sent Most Important to Melbourne in the spring but was mystified with his two Caulfield failures and sent him home.

“We didn’t see the best of him in the spring and I still don’t know what happened,” he said.

“He’s got more petrol in the tank this year after we burnt the midnight oil with him trying to get him into the last Magic Millions.

“It’s very different with him this time around and I’m very excited.”

Most Important, who downed Torgersen by 1-1/4 lengths, helped Gollan claim last year’s Summer Crown and will be part of his attack this summer.

His next mission will be The Buffering at Doomben on December 30 before the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 30.

Meanwhile trainer Rob Heathcote collected a consolation prize following Hopfgarten’s Villiers Stakes defeat in Sydney when Pinch River claimed the Listed Bribie Handicap (1000m).

Pinch River, having his first start since his Weetwood Handicap failure at Toowoomba in April, led throughout to down All Over Bosanova by a long neck.

The Liam Birchley-trained Havasay was third, only a neck away.

“He hasn’t had a track gallop for a month but he does a lot of swimming,” Heathcote said.

“He’s won a Listed race now so I’ll patch him up and get him ready for the Magic Millions Sprint.”

Hopfgarten finished ninth, only three lengths behind Birchley’s star sprinter Crack Me Up in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick.

The winner of the Villiers Stakes can earn a $100,000 bonus if he wins the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben in two weeks.

However, Birchley indicated Crack Me Up would bypass the Bernborough and be freshened up for the $1m Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on January 13.

Racing Queensland webnews   December 16