By Glenn Davis
Trainer Tony Gollan is hopeful promising colt Garibaldi can prove he’s up for the challenge of the major two-year-old winter features in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Gollan rated Garibaldi a 50-50 chance of making his comeback in the Dalrello Stakes after the youngster missed a key barrier trial at Doomben on Tuesday but has given him the green light to start in the 1200-metre feature.
Garibaldi is being set for the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 25 which will determine if he proceeds to the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) on the same track on June 8.
Garibaldi hasn’t raced since finishing a close fifth to Godolphin owned filly Tenley in the Listed Pierro Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in mid-February.
The son of I Am Invincible was a $475,000 buy at the Inglis Easter sales in Sydney and earned a trip interstate following his easy win on debut at Eagle Farm on February 2.
“He missed a key trial when they were washed out but I’m happy with his work,” Gollan said.
“He only had two weeks off after his Sydney run which was quite good considering he over-raced.
“He’s come back a better horse for the trip away but he’s naturally not fully wound up yet.
“It’s a good race and he won’t be far away.
“His next run will be in the Champagne Stakes then the Sires’ Produce and he may even go to the J J Atkins if he’s going well at the time.”
Gollan also is looking at the major winter races with I’m A Rippa in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) and A Man To Watch in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m).
I’m A Rippa was scratched from last week’s Listed Ascot Handicap which was run on a heavy track and hasn’t raced since the summer when he claimed the Group 3 George Moore Stakes and finished second in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben in December.
“This was always the back-up plan for I’m A Rippa and the key with him is a good track,” Gollan said.
“It’s the first time he’s raced at weight-for-age and it’s a smart little field so we’ll see how he performs.
“I’d like to take him to the Stradbroke but he can always drop back to the second-tier races.”
Gollan is aiming A Man To Match for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June and was pleased with the gelding’s first-up seventh to Racecourse Road at Eagle Farm on April 13.
Racing Queensland webnews April 26