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Garibaldi gives Gollan Golden Slipper hope

2 February 2019

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By Isaac Murphy

The beautifully bred Garibaldi out of boom sire I am Invincible has lived up to his $475,000 price tag at the Inglis Classic sales making a winning debut for trainer Tony Gollan in the QTIS two-year-old Handicap at Eagle Farm.

The colt was highly fancied to win the race after an outstanding trial and Gollan said he was relieved to see the horse bring the same form to the races.

“Being an expensive colt and there’s always a little bit of pressure when they have their first day at the races, I’m just happy it all went to plan,” Gollan said.

“I couldn’t have had him in better shape to come to the races today he’s very well-schooled and paraded out the back beautifully.”

“I thought Jim (Byrne) rode him a treat, he let the speed go and my only instructions were to give him plenty of room to let down and that’s what he did.”

Gollan said the forward-looking colt was a standout at the Inglis Classic Sales and was confident his development would see him race with some of Australia’s best two-year-old’s ahead of The Golden Slipper on March 23rd.

“He was a gorgeous yearling, Craig Rounsefell from Boomer Bloodstock identified him and put a good syndicate together for what he thought was the standout colt from the Classic sale last year,” Gollan said.

“It was fantastic to step him out one from one today, but he’s got bigger assignments ahead of him.”

“We’ll get him home and see how he pulls up but in all likelihood we’ll see him in Sydney in a few weeks.”

Winning hoop Jim Byrne said the colt was a real professional at his age and had plenty of scope to improve.

“It was the first time I jumped on him I the trial the other day and it was pretty impressive he did it very very soft,” Byrne said.

“When we eased up to them at the 350 metres I thought I was going to fight it out with the stable mate (Ready To Roam), but he gave him the slip.”

“Probably the nicest thing about him is his temperament, he can race on speed like in his trial or take the sit today.”

In another boost for the team Gollan stablemate Ready To Roam also made an exceptional debut giving Gollan the quinella as the gelding hit the line hard.

Gollan said the gelding’s prep would be tailored towards the QTIS Aquis Jewel Set-Weights at the Gold Coast on March 16th.