Queensland’s premier trainer rolled the dice in giving Boomtown Boss one more run while making the trip to Melbourne has been vindicated with victory in the first black-type feature for the new racing season, the Aurie’s Star Handicap.
Gollan decided to make the move after a luckless Brisbane winter carnival and whether the 1200-metre Group 3 event would tell him whether Boomtown Boss ($13) still had it in him to snag one an elusive win this preparation, and if handling the Flemington straight would open other more lucrative opportunities.
“He profiles as a more who loves big tracks and a lot of room so I felt that for a little while he would make a nice straight horse,” Gollan said.
“During his winter prep, he was going nowhere and when I zigged I should have zagged, everything was going wrong.
“I knew this race was on the cards so I backed off him (after the Eye Liner Stakes) and sent him to Ciaron’s (Maher) at Cranbourne to really settle him in.
“I thought the trip away, and with straight racing, I thought it would suit him and through the race he was travelling alright.”
Aurie’s Star Handicap | Boomtown Boss
The Queenslander! Boomtown Boss drives through to take the Aurie’s Star for Tony Gollan and Daniel Moor ✨
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/kfd0tCGc8a— Racing.com (@Racing) August 1, 2026
Initial race favourite War Machine was a late scratching after bursting through the starting stalls and post-race drama followed in the stewards room as connections of second-placed Royal Insignia ($8.50) fired in a protest over excessive use by winning jockey Daniel Moor.
Stewards found that there was evidence of excessive use but the amount was insufficient to overturn the result with the winning margin of a neck.
“He came her a bit unknown down the straight and he did wander about a bit and change legs a lot, but you just know that when you’re on a Tony Gollan horse that they are well prepared,” Moor said.
Tony Gollan also won the Aurie’s Star Handicap in 2011 with Temple Of Boom.
