Mishani team claims Darryl Gollan Memorial in a breeze

By Jordan Gerrans

The Mishani operation is renowned for being prolific in juvenile races in the Sunshine State but they broke completely new ground in the area on Saturday evening at Clifford Park.

The Toowoomba Turf Club hosted the fifth edition of The Darryl Gollan Memorial race on Saturday which is run as a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1200 metres.

The late Darryl Gollan was famous for his ability to get two-year-olds running early in the season.  

In more recent years, the Mishani team led by Les Ross – and now Donna Stanbridge – have become the masters with the local babies.

The Mishani brand have been prominent on Magic Millions day as well as claiming the feature QTIS Jewel.

But, in the four previous editions, they were yet to claim the race named in honour of the respected former Darling Downs mentor.

Mishani Breeze handed the team their maiden win in the event as the filly toughed out the finish ahead of Lonesome Soul from the Greg Wright stable.

Trainer Stanbridge said their Beaudesert-based team were thrilled to win the race named to recognise the Queensland racing great.

“It was an honour to win that race, really,” Stanbridge said.

“He was such a big name and for me to do it in my first year training – it was very exciting.”

Long-time Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp won the first race named in Gollan’s memory with Alert And Ready back in 2021.

Darryl’s son Tony claimed the race last year with Boomtown Boss, who started the event as a short-priced favourite.

Darryl Gollan - a trainer, owner and breeder of race horses - passed away following a long battle with cancer at the age of 76 in 2020.

Now known as the Pat O’Shea Plate - the feature two-year-old event on the Darling Downs - Darryl prepared the winner on eight different occasions dating back to 1988, including one year when he trained the first three past the post.

Of the six gallopers who contested the 2025 edition of the race, Mishani Breeze was one of the longest-priced runners in the market at $41.

The daughter of Sun City was not worried about how the bookmakers rated her chances as she was strong to the line.

Hoop Madeleine Wishart stalked the speed with Mishani Breeze and presented her at the top of the Clifford Park straight.

Stanbridge was full of praise for Wishart’s efforts, remarking that her ride likely won the race.

“I thought Maddy rode her perfect,” Stanbridge said.

“She sat in behind the speed there and pulled her out at the top of the straight. She rode the race perfectly.”

Mishani Breeze had been to the races on three occasions prior to Saturday night with a fourth-placed run at Caloundra late last month her best finishing position.

“I thought the horse would run well but I did not think she would win,” Stanbridge said.

“I was hopeful more than confident. Just because of Tony Gollan's horse in the race, Making News, was very smart.

“But, she had the fitness on her side and we were very pleased.

“Breeze has shown a little bit on the track, she is just an honest worker really. She is more workmanlike than a star and just puts in every time.”

Mishani Breeze is likely to now be targeted towards the $125,000 Pat O’Shea Plate for two-year-olds, which will be run on the same program as the King of the Mountain later this month.

The Stanbridge team were busy on the weekend with a winner at Clifford Park on Saturday evening while Mishani Persuasion scored at the Chinchilla meeting during the day.

The stable also had multiple runners at the feature QTIS Jewel meeting at the Gold Coast with the trainer noting she was pleased with the run of Mishani Rock who finished fourth in the three-year-old event.