Gollan hopes Rocket can fire at Doomben

Wednesday 1 April 2015, 1:44pm

The wet weather in Brisbane could force trainer Tony Gollan into a situation he was hoping to avoid.

Gollan has accepted with Rocket To Glory in the Brisbane Marriott Hotel Open Handicap at Doomben on Saturday after deciding the horse would be better suited at 1200 metres, rather than the 1110-metres of the Listed Chief De Beers Handicap a week later.

But with Brisbane's midweek meeting called off due to wet weather and more showers forecast, Saturday's program is also in danger of being washed out.

If that happens, Gollan will have to revert to his original plan and send Rocket To Glory around over the shorter course.

"I will have to run him in the Chief De Beers if this wet continues," Gollan said.

"It isn't perfect but that will have to do.

"A lot of 1000-metre speedsters will tackle the Chief De Beers and I thought at this stage the 1200 metres is better.

"He ran 1:08.6 when he won the Gold Coast Stakes at his last start and it was the third time he has gone under 1:9.0 for 1200 metres."

Rocket To Glory has won 13 races and more than $750,000 prize money but is yet to win a Group race.

"His rating has really got up where it hurts. He is a 101-rater these days which means he is going to usually carry top weight in open handicaps," Gollan said.

"He really has paid for his consistency. I was originally keen to keep him to open handicaps but I think he may be a bit better than that in races around the 1200-metre mark."

Gollan will consider the Victory Stakes at the Gold Coast on April 25 and the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba on May 2 as winter targets for Rocket To Glory.

The gelding could also be given a Group Two test in the QTC Cup if he measures up.

Gollan will have just one other runner at Doomben on Saturday with Theft set to line up against his stablemate in the Open Handicap.

"He is very good in the wet so I hope the meeting goes ahead for him," Gollan said.

– AAP

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