By Glenn Davis
An injury setback has delayed talented three-year-old Garibaldi’s comeback but trainer Tony Gollan still has Melbourne ambitions for the colt and stablemate Niedorp.
Gollan had planned to start the pair at Eagle Farm on Saturday and hoped both would confirm spring carnival plans.
However, a minor setback ruled Garibaldi out of the males’ division of the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1000m) while Niedorp is set to start in the fillies division.
“Garibaldi sustained a minor laceration at the jump outs yesterday and won’t run until Saturday week,” Gollan said.
“It won’t affect him going south but he had to have antibiotics which meant he couldn’t run this week.”
Gollan has penciled in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 14 for Garibaldi while Niedorp will run in the Listed Cap D’Antibes (1100m) the same day.
Niedorp hasn’t raced since finishing third to Diamond Thunder in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 1.
“Both of them had a barrier trial two weeks ago and a jump out yesterday and were fit and ready to go first-up,” Gollan said.
“Luckily it’s only a minor setback with Garibaldi and Melbourne is still on.
“They both had trips away as two-year-olds and they’ve benefitted a lot from the experience.
“I want to see how they go up the straight at Flemington before I look too far ahead with both of them,” Gollan said.
Gollan said there were several options available for the pair in Melbourne but hasn’t ruled out Sydney.
“There’s quite a few options for them in the spring and they could even go back to Sydney,” he said.
“I think 1400m metres is the best distance for Garibaldi after he had a go at the mile in the T J Smith.
“If everything goes to plan the main aim for Garibaldi would be the Coolmore Stakes but that’s a long way into the spring.”
Garibaldi was a $475,000 buy at the Sydney Inglis sales and has started six times for one win and a third while Niedorp has had a win and three placings from five starts.
Last season’s leading apprentice Baylee Nothdurft will ride Niedorp.
Racing Queensland webnews August 28