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Gollan after bragging rights in The TAB Wave

1 January 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tony Gollan is hopeful A Man To Match can repel the interstate raiders and claim bragging rights as the first ever winner of The TAB Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The $250,000 The TAB Wave is one of several new races introduced for the revamped Brisbane and Gold Coast summer carnival.

It is restricted to three and four-year-olds at weight-for-age and carries a wildcard to the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.

A $200,000 bonus is also available to the winner if it is paid up for the Magic Millions Trophy.

Gollan is yet to win the major Magic Millions features, the Magic Millions Classic and Magic Millions Guineas but has tasted past success on the big gala day.

He won with the “Boom Brothers” Temple Of Boom in the 2011 Magic Millions Sprint and Spirit of Boom in the Magic Millions Cup the following year while I’m A Rippa claimed the Magic Millions QTIS race in 2018.

A Man To Match, who drew barrier 10, was a $300,000 yearling and is from the last crop of top sire High Chaparral and out of the More Than Ready mare, Pregrada.

He is one of several horses that Linda and Graham Huddy, from Peachester Lodge, race with Gollan.

Gollan has always had a big opinion of A Man To Match and set him for last year’s Group 1 Queensland Derby but he beat only one home after pulling up with heart arrhythmia.

However, since returning for the summer the four-year-old has been in good form winning over 2030 metres at Doomben in November before a last start fourth to The Candy Man over 1800 metres at Eagle Farm on December 14.

“This is the right race for him and it’s worth a lot of money and it’s the only chance he’ll get to run in it as it’s for three and four-year-olds,” Gollan said.

“I’m very happy with the way he’s going and weight-for-age doesn’t bother me.

“He doesn’t need the wildcard for the (Magic Millions) Trophy as he’s paid up for the Magic Millions.”

Gollan considered running A Man To Match in the Shoot Out Quality at Eagle Farm last Saturday but felt The Wave was a more suitable race.

Gollan also will saddle up stable newcomer Mahis Angel, barrier nine, in The Wave.

Mahis Angel was previously trained by Lloyd Kennewell in Victoria and made his stable debut for Gollan beating only two home in a 1400-metre Class Six at Eagle Farm on December 21.

“He’ll be a big improver at this distance after he had a tough run when caught three wide last start,” Gollan said.

“He’s at his right distance in this and I can’t see why he won’t run a big race.”

Racing Queensland webnews   January 1