Gollan targets Archer glory with experience and youth

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith

Champion Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has branded the 2026 edition of The Archer as the strongest field in the short history of the Central Queensland event. 

With $1 million on the line at Callaghan Park on Sunday, the leading Queensland conditioner heads north with two runners – Rockribbed and Boomtown Boss. 

As the Eagle Farm mentor notes, he presents with ‘the young and the old’ of his team as veteran sprinter Rockribbed is four years older than Boomtown Boss.

The annual CQ slot race has attracted a quality field of runners for the 2026 edition, with a number of leading Melbourne and Sydney stables set to be represented. 

On the riding front, elite hoops Craig Williams, Nash Rawiller and Tommy Berry will also make the trip north to add extra star power to the race.

With all that in mind, Gollan believes the highest quality The Archer will be contested this Sunday since the race was first introduced in 2022. 

“This is by far the strongest Archer we've seen, particularly in depth of field,” Gollan declared.

“So, whatever wins it, you can expect them to really play their part this Stradbroke Season.

“My horses probably do not get in as well as some others in the field.

“There are some really high-rated horses there under the set weights and penalties. They are probably getting a touch better than mine.

“But, that's not always what wins these races.

“It's a unique race where it sits at the start of this carnival and it'll be about how horses’ preparations have gone leading into it.

“It's very early in our carnival to be going over 1300 metres up there and we're all eight hours away from home.

“So, it's a whole new journey for us all here from the South East corner.”

Gollan, who was recently inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame, believes how horses’ parade on Sunday at Rockhampton will be key as many of the runners will be at the venue in the local conditions for the first time.

Rockribbed and Boomtown Boss are at the start of their 2026 winter campaigns and will have more assignments in Brisbane following their ‘Rocky’ raid. 

Rockribbed won twice at Listed level in the back end of 2025 while Boomtown Boss has also tasted black-type glory, scoring in the Daybreak Lover back in April of last year. 

The 47-year-old Gollan has had The Archer in mind for both of his sprinters for some time. 

“Rockribbed, he's just rejuvenated himself throughout the summer,” Gollan said.

“The minute I pulled up on him after the Sunshine Coast Cup day there at the end of January, I picked this race out and I thought it would be ideal for him.

“He has had a first-up run, we thought we would give him a quiet run over a distance that wasn't going to suit him at 1000 metres.

“The plan was to just get that freshness off him for the 1300 metres.

“We now head up there with him spot on. But, I really like Boomtown Boss, he's a really nice horse and he's a four-year-old.

“I am really keen to go into The Archer fresh up after he's had a couple of trials and he trialled up well.

“Boomtown Boss could get to a really good level this winter or he may be a carnival away, I am not sure.”

The four editions of The Archer have so far been claimed by: Lubrication, Namazu, Alpine Edge and Emerald Kingdom.

As a lad from the bush at heart, Gollan is eager to add one of his gallopers to the champions list come Sunday afternoon. 

“I love country racing,” he said.

“I've been going to the Rockhampton carnivals since I was a boy, since I started training in Toowoomba.

“It's a town I love, they're a great racing community and every time there's a good race up there, I want to support it and this race is no different.

“For a $1 million, there's a million reasons for me to want to win this race.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the bookmakers have Boomtown Boss as a $12 shot for Sunday’s sprint with his stablemate a $26 hope. 

The Inflictor, who is prepared by Brisbane truck driver Craig Cousins, is the $4.20 favourite for the event.