By Glenn Davis
Trainer Tony Gollan rates talented youngster Garibaldi his best chance to give Queensland its second Group 1 of the Brisbane winter carnival in the J J Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Gollan has a hand in the three majors, the J J Atkins, Queensland Derby and Stradbroke Handicap.
As well as Garibaldi in the J J Atkins, Gollan has A Man To Match lining up in the Queensland Derby and I’m A Rippa in the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap.
Queensland won its first Group 1 of the Brisbane winter carnival last week when the Gary Newham-trained Winning Ways claimed the Queensland Oaks at Doomben.
“Garibaldi has drawn a good gate and he’ll be ridden off the pace so he’ll have every chance of getting the mile (1600m),” Gollan said.
“Until they run 1600 metres you never know if they’ll get it but I’m confident he will.
“The market suggests Garibaldi is our best chance and it’s probably right but I do think A Man To Match is a great chance in the Queensland Derby.
“His alley is a big worry but he’ll run the trip easily.”
Garibaldi has won only one of his five starts but Gollan has always believed he has bright future.
The son of I Am Invincible won an open two-year-old at Eagle Farm in February before being sent to Sydney during the autumn.
However, Gollan pulled up stumps with Garibaldi after he ran fifth to Godolphin’s Tenley in the Group 3 Pierro Plate at Randwick in mid-February.
Since resuming Garibaldi ran sixth in the Listed Dalrelllo Stakes, fourth in the Group 2 Moet & Chandon Stakes before a last start third in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben.
Garibaldi will be ridden by Damien Oliver after the youngster was forced to lead for Jeff Lloyd in the Sires’ Produce Stakes.
A Man To Match has drawn but 20 but will come into gate 16 if the Derby emergencies don’t secure starts.
Gollan has timed A Man To Match’s Derby preparations perfectly with the son of High Chaparral having his fifth start this campaign.
After finishing a close sixth in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on May 11, A Man To Match ran a game second to the John Thompson-trained Purple Sector in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben two weeks later.
Gollan was delighted with A Man To Match’s last start performance in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben when he came from last at the 800 metres to finish fifth to the Bjorn Baker-trained Fun Fact.
Racing Queensland webnews June 7