Unbeaten Capital Tower aiming for big winter in Queensland

By Jordan Gerrans

Unbeaten youngster Capital Tower could not have been more impressive in his first three victories and trainer Tony Gollan expects him to go to another level in Saturday’s Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.

Previously known as the Champagne Classic in years gone by, Gollan will use the 1200-metre feature as his emerging colt’s kick-off point, heading towards bigger targets.

The TAB has the son of Capitalist an equal $11 favourite - alongside two others - for the Group 1 JJ Atkins, to be run next month, after going through his first three runs without fault.

The premier Brisbane trainer anticipates the $600,000 yearling purchase is ready to go bang this Saturday.

“We will see a horse on the weekend that is better than what we have seen previously,” Gollan said.

“He probably needs to keep on getting better too, he has been winning but he is a horse that has not been winning by big margins.

“I am really, really happy with where he is at, he has never been better than where he is now."

After recording his third win on the trot at Toowoomba earlier this year, Gollan wondered if his gun colt could be a $5m Golden Slipper hopeful in Sydney.

That plan was put on ice as he and Capital Tower’s owner focussed in on the TAB Queensland Racing Carnival.

Following the Spirit Of Boom Classic, Capital Tower is likely headed towards the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce before the iconic JJ Atkins.

“He is a really nice colt,” Gollan said.

“I really want to put him in the two-year-old triple crown, the 1200 metres to the 1400 metres out to a mile.

“This race this week profiles really well for him, we have backed off him in the autumn with our mindset to run through this carnival."

The chestnut prepared for his return to the races with a blow-out next to stable mate Nettuno, who also remains unbeaten after claiming the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic on the Gold Coast last Saturday afternoon.

“He is a very impressive colt and trialled up beside Nettuno the other day on unsuitable ground,” Gollan said of Capital Tower.

“He jumped out well on heavy ground, which he doesn’t love.

“He is much more push button than Nettuno, he is a real readymade race horse and I am excited to see him at the races on Saturday.”

As well as four runners in the feature Doomben 10,000 and Capital Tower’s pursuits in the Spirit Of Boom Classic, the Gollan team will also be on the hunt for more black-type action with Ashgrove in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate.

The colt is only a maiden winner from six tries, but also has four minor placings, and Gollan is hopeful he can add to that on Saturday.

“He was unlucky not to be right in the finish the other day,” he said.

“I am not saying he wins; he was probably entitled to be right there.

“He got caught in a very awkward spot for a while and had to pick up momentum and go again.

“He really wants the 2000 metres now as he is really relaxing beautiful in the run and he will give his backers a great sight.”

With the switch of venue from Doomben to Eagle Farm following the heavy rain in Brisbane, Gollan has decided to start all four of his Doomben 10,000 chances, instead of that number dwindling if the race was to be held on a heavy Doomben.