Champion trainer Tony Gollan will be tuning into Doomben racing from Fiji on Saturday as he aims to seal an incredible slice of Queensland racing history.
Last season, champion trainer Gollan claimed his 10th Queensland metropolitan training premiership with 140.5 winners and that’s exactly the number of city wins he sits on this season ahead of Saturday’s Doomben meeting.
Gollan has 12 runners on the card and he would be short odds to pick up at least one win to take him past last season’s mark.
Currently on a family holiday in Fiji, the star trainer was quick to pay credit his large team of staff for what will be a record-breaking season.
“I personally didn’t think we could get that tally again this year,” Gollan told Racenet, from Fiji.
Record-breaking trainer Tony Gollan. Picture: Richard Walker
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“I feel it was a really high benchmark last season and to be able to break that again this season, I didn’t think it would be achievable.
“It’s been a huge team effort over the entire season, week-in and week-out.
“It can’t be done without a lot of help from everyone who is involved, no matter what part they play in the business.
“I am very thankful to all of our staff and very thankful to all of our clients who keep supporting us.
“It’s very satisfying for the whole team and I’m sure everyone involved in the team is just as thrilled as me that we could break this milestone once more.”
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Gollan is a wrecking ball when it comes to training winners in Brisbane.
He is 80.5 winners ahead of the next trainer on the list – Chris Waller – when it comes to training city winners in Brisbane this season.
And in the national training premiership, Gollan is third on the list and only behind the monster stables of Waller and Ciaron Maher for city winners.
Gollan’s record-breaking winner could come early in the Doomben Saturday card.
He has Brereton ($4.20) and Muschialli ($5.50) among the fancied runners in the second race of the day.
Gollan really likes the chances of three-year-old colt Invincible Shield, who is aiming to make it three consecutive wins since joining Gollan’s stable.
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Invincible Shield is the $1.50 favourite in the third Doomben race – the QTIS 3YO Handicap over 1110m.
“We have got a really good team in on the weekend in Brisbane,” Gollan said.
“Invincible Shield is the horse I’m most excited about going to the races.
“He is better than a restricted grade kind of horse, he is pretty exciting.
“He is the horse I have probably got my eye on the most.
“He is full of potential and he’s still learning how to race and how he can do a job for us.
“I also like Brereton first-up for the stable, I think he is going really well also.”