Baller Belts Them in Moreton Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 5

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.

Baller (image BRC twitter)

It was two out of two for Baller since being to transferred to Tony Gollan having won the Listed Golmarket Quality (1200m) at the Gold Coast on May 8.

Gollan said the secret to Baller’s success is to space his runs and keep him fresh.

Given a patient ride by Glen Boss, Baller took the shortest route home to defeat Zaniah (Zoustar) by two and a quarter lengths with Wisdom Of Water (Headwater) a short-neck back in third.

The handsome 5yo gelding advanced his record to six wins, one second and two thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $479,565.

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.

Baller is one of 133 stakes-winner for High Chaparral (IRE) who last shuttled in 2014 and died in December that year.

High Chaparral

Advertisment

Race Result - Ascot Green Moreton Cup Gr2 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.18
1
Baller
- 5g High Chaparral (IRE) x Fuwa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: G Boss 55.5
2
2.3
Zaniah
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Listen Here (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 54
Zoustar
3
2.5
Wisdom Of Water
- 3c Headwater (AUS) x Regal Tier (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Craig Williams 55
Headwater
4
4.7
The Astrologist
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Ben Thompson 55
5
6.4
Stampe
- 4g Whittington (AUS) x Envelope (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: L V Cassidy 55
6
7.2
Scallopini
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Rose Of Mulan (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 56
7
10.4
Varda
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Wild Queen (AUS) (Loup Sauvage (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53.5
8
11.7
Splintex
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Acquired (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 57
9
18.2
Special Reward
- 5g Demerit (AUS) x Special Kiseki (AUS) (Special Bond (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
More Reading...
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.
High Chaparral's Baller Brave in Bobbie Lewis
Two Queensland veterans whose best days looked to be behind them triumphed on Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Out of the Wilderness - Baller Strikes First Time Out for Tony Gollan
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.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.