By Glenn Davis
A Lightning Handicap mission during the winter could be on the radar for rejuvenated sprinter Just Orm if the gelding is successful at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Just Orm is one of three runners for Tony Gollan in the Open Handicap (1000m) and the master trainer is confident he’ll be in the finish.
Gollan’s other runners are last start winner Pizonie and former Sydney sprinter Super Too who makes her stable debut.
Gollan has always had a big opinion of Just Orm and rated him good enough to start in the Magic Millions Classic as a two-year-old in 2016.
Just Orm won only two races as a two-year-old and another two as a three-year-old before hitting a form slump after winning his first race as a four-year-old at Doomben in September, 2018.
He went almost a year before winning again as a six-year-old in a Benchmark race at Doomben in August last year but had to spell for the mandatory three months after he bled.
Since returning this campaign, Just Orm finished fourth to Rock Beat in his comeback at Eagle Farm in December before winning for the first time in open company at the Sunshine Coast in January.
“It’s probably a bit soon to talk about the winter races for him as there’s a 900 metre race at the Gold Coast on QTIS Jewel day next month,” Gollan said.
“If, at the time, he’s racing well we may look at a race like the Lightning in the winter.”
Just Orm has won seven of his 30 starts but has never won at Eagle Farm in three starts.
“He’s hasn’t had many goes at Eagle Farm but he hasn’t won there yet,” Gollan said.
“I’ve had to place him right but this looks a nice race again for him.
“He’s drawn well to get a good run in behind them and I’m very happy with him after he won in Open company last start.”
Gollan gives Just Orm a slight edge over stablemates Super Too and Pizonie.
Super Too is having her first start for Gollan since she failed to get in foal at stud.
She was previously trained by Marc Conners before being sold for $550,000 at the Magic Millions national broodmare sale on the Gold Coast last year.
Gollan considers Super Too to be a work in progress as she hasn’t raced since finishing last at Warwick Farm in February last year.
Racing Queensland webnews February 21