Tony Gollan says Freedom Rally is the ‘forgotten horse' in a very competitive Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm
Tony Gollan has scored the Victory Stakes with a pair of Group 1 stars, but struggles to remember such a big and competitive field with as much depth as will be on show on Saturday.
Temple Of Boom (2014) and Antino (last year) have claimed the Victory for Queensland's champion trainer but both had to beat eight and seven rivals respectively.
A full field of 16 plus one emergency were declared on Wednesday declared for the Group 2 Victory which is Queensland's traditional winter carnival pipe-opener for the sprinters at Eagle Farm.
As Gollan declared one of his four runners was the forgotten contender in the field, he lauded the strength and depth of Saturday's edition of the 1200m sprint which has several contenders including Gollan's Hidden Wealth vying for favouritism.
'Some years going back in time, it was a soft-option weight-for-age race,' Gollan said.
'But this year it's a very good race and this would be as big a Victory Stakes field as we have seen for some time.
'Often there have been eight runners, so it is really a show of the depth of what this carnival has got this year.
'I think there's going to be a good bit of pressure in it and I can't recall a Victory Stakes with such a big field and with so depth.
'It's a weight-for-age race but it will be run somewhat like a handicap.
'There will be enough pressure in it to break up the field, it's a really good start to the carnival.'
Hidden Wealth, resuming after last being seen scoring a $1.5m sprint on Magic Millions day, is considered Gollan's leading contender at $5.50 in betting.
However, Gollan believes Freedom Rally is well poised to spring an upset at $16.
Two starts ago, Freedom Rally finished two lengths off Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield in February.
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'If you look at the four runners of ours, there are probably two runners which stand out,' Gollan said
'Freedom Rally has obviously been to a good level and having him back at home, at Eagle Farm, I think he is the forgotten horse in the race.
'It could be a bit short for him, but he has freshened up nicely.
'Hidden Wealth is a horse on the rise, doing everything right.
'This could be a breakout carnival for him.
'Out of the four, they are my two that probably look like they could go to a good level or above.'
Gollan has King Kapa ($15) and Cannonball ($51) rounding out his four-strong attack on the Victory.
The top trainer also has a leading contender in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas, with Boomtown Boss and apprentice jockey Emily Lang striving for their third consecutive win.
Gollan said the Guineas was a long-range target but there is also the potential for him to try to qualify for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap later in the carnival.
'He is such an improving horse and, don't forget, he went into his first-up run without a trial,' Gollan said.
'I think he is spot on for the weekend.
'After Saturday, does he go back to a Fred Best Classic to try to get a golden ticket into a Stradbroke, I'm not sure?
'I have always seen him as a Guineas type horse and Saturday is going to tell me exactly what I do with him going forward.
'He's out to a mile for the first time, but you would be brave to say he wouldn't run it, the way he's been racing.'
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