Half Brothers Lower the Boom at Doomben
Description:
Half brothers Spirit of Boom and Temple of Boom finished as the respective winner and runner-up in the Doomben 10,000 (Aus-I) May 24 at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane.
Buffering, co-favorite with Spirit of Boom and Rebel Dane, attempted to lead all the way, but he was collared 100 meters out by the siblings. The three matched strides as the finish line loomed until Spirit of Boom stuck his nose out for Michael Rodd to prevail.
Temple of Boom took second, with Buffering a half-length back in third. The fast-finishing Rebel Dane flashed up on the outside for a close fourth in the 11-horse field.
"I've usually got plenty to say, but I'm absolutely gobsmacked," trainer Tony Gollan told www.abc.net.au. He conditions the half brothers for partnerships that include breeder Eureka Thoroughbreds.
"They're two great horses to train," he said of his runners, both group I winners. "I've taken them everywhere. They keep turning up and when they get the runs to suit like they did today, they're so hard to beat."
The top three finishers are all Queensland-trained.The finish marked a rare trifecta, and an appreciative on-track crowd roared its approval, with commentators and the horses' connections unable to make themselves heard.
Spirit of Boom was timed in 1:17.93 for 1,350 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs) on turf rated as good and notched his second group 1 of the season. He won the William Reid Stakes by a nose March 21 at Moonee Valley. Saturday's victory improved his record to 9-14-6 from 51 career starts that include three other stakes wins and 18 stakes-placings.
Buffering was shadowed briefly by Driefontein, then Hot Snitzel while setting the pace. He was still in control at the turn with Spirit of Boom in behind Temple of Boom on the rail and waiting for the right time to pounce.
Spirit of Boom, a 6-year-old by Sequalo, is out of the stakes-placed Special Dane mare Temple Spirit. She produced Temple of Boom, by Piccolo, a year earlier.