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Gollan dominates Queensland TAB Summer Carnival opener

15 November 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tony Gollan is hopeful of starting the Queensland TAB Summer Carnival with a second win in the Listed Keith Noud Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Gollan has won the past five Brisbane trainers’ premiership and has a powerful hand with four runners in the 1200-metre feature.

Gollan has had several starters in the Keith Noud Stakes since the race was elevated to Listed level in 2011 when he won it the only time with Listen Son.

This year, Gollan will be represented by topweight Most Important, I’m A Rippa and French import Coldstone, who all will be resuming, and Hi I’m Back.

Most Important ran third to the Desleigh Forster-trained Too Good To Refuse in the Keith Noud Stakes in 2016 enroute to claiming the big summer carnival scalps in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben.

The six-year-old failed in last year’s Keith Noud Stakes when it was run at Ipswich after rain forced the abandonment of the final five races at Doomben.

Despite the failure, Most Important went on to win successive Lough Neagh Stakes at his next start.

Most Important, a Jim Byrne mount, has not started since finishing fifth to stablemate I’m A Rippa in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich in June.

Gollan was reluctant to separate his quartet and is pleased with their progress.

“Most Important and I’m A Rippa are going on to the George Moore in a couple of weeks and both are coming along well,” Gollan said.

“Most Important has had two jump outs over 1000 metres but he normally thrives on racing and works into his preparation.

“Most Important and I’m A Rippa are the two most qualified of my runners and I’m A Rippa has won both his two jump outs and is coming to hand well.”

Gollan is undecided if Coldstone and Hi I’m Back, a last start second to Volkoff at Doomben two weeks ago, will go on to the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 1.

“I think Coldstone is looking to get over further ground and his next run might be over 1400 metres rather than the George Moore while I’m not sure with Hi I’m Back,” he said.

Coldstone is having his fifth start for Gollan after leaving the Michael Kent stable in Victoria and hasn’t raced since failing in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben in June.

Racing Queensland webnews   November 15