Rivals not throwing in towel to Gollan star

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tony Gollan’s promising colt Invincible Shield is a short-priced favourite to stretch his unbeaten Queensland record to four at Doomben on Saturday but two rivals are not throwing in the white towel.

Invincible Shield is an odds-on chance at $1.65 to make it four straight wins since coming to Queensland but the Annabel Neasham and David Vandyke stables are clinging to hope they can cause an upset in the male’s division of the QTIS Three-Year-old Handicap over 1200 metres.

Neasham saddles up $6.50 second favourite Rimbaud and $9.00 hope Addriel while Vandyke is looking to turn the tables on Invincible Shield with Bohemian Lad who is a $7.00 chance.

Bohemian Lad has won three of his six starts and was a game third behind Invincible Shield when the pair clashed in an 1110-metre Three-Year-Old race at Doomben on July 13.

The son of Better Than Ready was a $140,000 buy at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sales in 2022 and has already returned more than $112,000 in prizemoney to his owners which include media identity Paul Joice.

Vandyke concedes it’s a tough task for Bohemian Lad, but anything can happen in racing.

“The favourite is probably the most promising three-year-old in Queensland and we’ll need a lot of luck from an awkward barrier to beat him,” Vandyke said.

“I suppose anything can happen in racing but realistically it’ll be a struggle for Bohemian Lad.”

Meanwhile Rimbaud’s hopes for an upset are boosted by a 2.5kg weight turnaround in his favour after finishing second to Invincible Shield over 1200 metres at Doomben on June 12.

Rimbaud did his early racing in Sydney but failed to win until Neasham sent him north for a breakthrough maiden win at Ipswich in May.

The son of Lope de Vega has won two of his three starts since coming to Queensland and is coming off last start win over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on July 10.

Neasham’s Brisbane stable manager Todd Pollard is on holidays and its Sydney racing manager Rob Archibald admits Rimbaud and Addriel need everything to go their way to cause a boilover.

“Rimbaud has had three good runs this campaign, but he’ll need to improve and take the next step,” Archibald said.

“We’ll give it a good crack with both of them and the swing in the weights will help Rimbaud.

“Adriell has only had one start this campaign and won well at Ipswich so they’re both in good form.”

Gollan believes Invincible Shield is one of the most exciting prospects in his stable and from barrier five will get a perfect run.

The champion trainer continues to break records in his star-studded career and has trained 143.5 winners this season, easily eclipsing his previous record mark of 140.5 wins which he set last season.

Invincible Shield was a $480,000 buy at the Inglis Classic sales and is raced by Sean Buckley’s Ultra Thoroughbreds.