Golden Boom looking to turn tables on End Assembly at Doomben
Closing the card at Doomben this Saturday is the Mick Dittman Plate over 1110m, which is always a competitive contest that draws a strong field.
End Assembly returns to the track for the Currie stable after an 18-week spell and will be looking to keep his unbeaten record intact.
The gelding has won three from three, including his last start in Listed company at Eagle Farm.
“He is a really nice horse, obviously three from three,” Ben Currie said.
“He has come back in good order and had a couple of jumpouts. Jumped out last week with Sir Warwick and he was pretty impressive in winning that jumpout.
“So, there’s going to be nowhere to hide for sure on Saturday with horses like Golden Boom, Chinny Boom, and Spiritualised.
“It’s a tough race so we’re under no illusions it’s gonna be tough, but he’s streaked the three and he’s beaten a few of those horses before, so again, hopefully, we can run well.
“He’s probably a horse that’s got a bit in the tank for later on in the preparation with Saturday obviously not his end goal.
“I would expect improvement to come for sure, but like I said really nice horse and he’s fit enough to make his presence felt for sure.”
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Golden Boom ran second in Listed class behind End Assembly in December after winning both of his prior races, including a 6.3-length effort at the Sunshine Coast last November.
Along with Spiritualised and Deer Trail, he is trained by Tony Gollan.
“He’s (Golden Boom) doing really well. Ryan Maloney will be riding him again on Saturday,” the Brisbane-based conditioner said.
“He is a bigger and stronger horse than what he was so we should see a better version of him on the weekend.
“I mean these are very deep races. Barrier’s been very important, it’s a pretty tricky start so 11, 10 gates go against us.
“He’s definitely come back a better horse and hopefully he’ll figure it at some level throughout the carnival.”
Gollan revealed that the run this weekend would dictate his campaign but one race was the eventual target.
“The traditional route for these colts is the Gold Coast Guineas which is up on the Sunny Coast this year,” he said.
“That’s probably his next run but it’s just a matter of how things pan out each run.
“There’s no problem in the carnival but it’s followed by a block so you’ve got to run well to go again in two weeks.
“At this stage, we just go on that usual three-year-old route just how far we go distance-wise and all that sort of stuff just depends on how he’s racing.”
Gollan confirmed that stablemate Spiritualise would also be aimed at the Gold Coast Guineas after his run on Saturday.
“He is going really well but like Golden Boom barriers help so we will see how that draw plays out,” the trainer said.
Deer Trail has won two from his four starts and the added 110m will only assist him here with boom jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor on board.
“I think he’ll get out further to 1400 later in the trip,” Gollan said.
“He’s only had one run back and we are just taking our time with him now to back off him for the carnival.
“He’s a nice horse and unlike Golden Boom if he is off speed and running on the barrier is not as important to him.
“He’s come back well but I think we would like to get him out over a little bit further.”
In their way is the current favourite in Chinny Boom, trained by Clinton Taylor, looking at making it two straight this prep after returning from a spell.
2023 Mick Dittman Plate field
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SWISS EXILE (8) | Annabel Neasham | Brodie Loy |
| 2. SPIRITUALISED (16) | Tony Gollan | James Orman |
| 4. END ASSEMBLY (5) | Mark Currie | Justin Stanley |
| 5. LUBRICATION (14) | Matthew Dunn | Ashley Morgan |
| 6. GOLDEN BOOM (10) | Tony Gollan | Ryan Maloney |
| 7. DEER TRAIL (3) | Tony Gollan | Kyle Wilson-Taylor |
| 8. LADY LAGUNA (2) | Annabel Neasham | Damien Thornton |
| 9. EXO LADY (17) | Desleigh Forster | Jim Byrne |
| 10. CHINNY BOOM (11) | Clinton Taylor | Ben Thompson |
| 11. SPIRIT QUEEN (20) | Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | Nikita Beriman |
| 12. FLAMING CONQUEST (15) | David Murphy | TBC |
| 13. MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO (7) | Kacy Fogden | Tom Sherry |
| 14. CONTROLOCRACY (1) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Samantha Collett |
| 16. GOBLIN’ DE QUO (13) | Darryl Ward | Dale Smith |
| 17. BEZIQUE (12) | Tony Gollan | Angela Jones (a) |