Out of the Wilderness - Baller Strikes First Time Out for Tony Gollan

Mark Smith - Saturday May 8

Winless since September 2019, the lightly raced High Chaparral (IRE) gelding Baller made his first start for Tony Gollan a winning one in Saturday’s Listed Golmarket Quality (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Baller (image Magic Millions)

Ridden by Glen Boss, Baller defied the brave Racecourse Road (Show A Heart) by a long-neck with Wisdom Of Water (Headwater) three-quarter of a length back in third.

FIfth behind Nature Strip in the 2019 Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill when trained by Anthony Cummings, Baller proved frustrating in his five starts for Chris Waller.

The striking 5yo gelding advanced his record to five wins, one second and two thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $363,565.

Advertisement

Purchased by Anthony Cummings for $160,000 out of the Baramul Stud draft at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Baller is the best of six winners from seven to race out of the Encosta De Lago mare Fuwa who died in 2017.

The final foal of Fuwa is the 3yo Star Witness gelding Kobestar who finished third at Randwick at his most recent start after finishing last in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas.

Baller becomes the 132nd stakes-winner for High Chaparral (IRE) who last shuttled in 2014 and died in December that year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Goldmarket Qlty LR 1200m

Gold Coast Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:10.85
1
Baller
- 5g High Chaparral (IRE) x Fuwa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: G Boss 54
2
0.4
Racecourse Road
- 5g Show A Heart (AUS) x Kidnapper (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Ron Stewart 56.5
3
1.2
Wisdom Of Water
- 3c Headwater (AUS) x Regal Tier (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
Headwater
4
1.3
Stampe
- 4g Whittington (AUS) x Envelope (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Craig Williams 54
5
1.5
Westlink
- 6g Casino Prince (AUS) x Comedy Express (AUS) (Rory's Jester (AUS))
Tnr: Darren Hyde Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
6
4.3
Passage Of Time
- 7g Northern Meteor (AUS) x Crystal Gauntlet (AUS) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: R Fradd 57
7
4.8
Boomsara
- 5g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Passara (AUS) (Tsuimai (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 55.5
8
6.3
Capital Connection
- 7g Denman (AUS) x Solar Verde (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 54
9
7.3
Macewen
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Gogoreilly (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: W Pike 54
10
7.8
Elixir
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Flavoured (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: M Cahill 54
More Reading...
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Baller Goes Back To Back in Moreton Cup
Winless for twelve months, the Tony Gollan-trained Baller made back-to-back wins in the Group II Ascot Green Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
No Everest for Sunshine in Paris - Retired to Stud
Disappointing news from Annabel and Rob Archibald on Tuesday with an announcement that the stable’s star sprinter Sunshine in Paris has sustained an injury in trackwork and will be  retired.
Spring Plans for El Vencedor
New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Baller Belts Them in Moreton Cup
Under a rails-hugging ride by Glen Boss, Baller dominated the Group II Ascot Green Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm, but trainer Tony Gollan is unlikely to be tempted to back up the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding in the $1million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.