Craig Kerry
Tony Gollan has taken better horses than Brindavan to the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) over the past three years, but the premier Queensland trainer believes the improving import has the timing and profile to challenge for a breakthrough win.
Gollan looked set for victory last year in the race for five-year-olds at Rosehill when group 1 winner and favourite Transatlantic hit the front late, only for Vivy Air to relegate him to second with a rails run.
A year earlier, $15 shot Freedom Rally stormed down the outside to beat all but Pericles. In 2023, Antino, which went on to win two group 1s, finished 10th.
Import Brindavan ($13 TAB) has earned a shot at the Five Diamonds with strong Saturday grade performances in Queensland.
Gollan and First Light Racing paid about $A515,000 (250,000 pounds) at the 2025 Goffs London Sale for Brindavan, which has two wins and two placings in each of his two Australian preparations.
His latest victory was a two and a half-length domination in a 1600m open handicap at Eagle Farm on heavy 10 going, giving Gollan added confidence if rain comes on Saturday.
“He’s a really nice horse, and a typical import,” Gollan said.
“His first prep was OK, but certainly off a break, and this time around, he’s been a whole lot better again. He’s a totally different beast this preparation. You will get to see a really nice, furnished racehorse there on Saturday.
“We’re really happy with him and he’s got a nice sense of timing about him.
“It’s obviously a step up from the races he’s been … and if we’re lucky enough to get some rain on the day, even better, from what we saw the other day at Eagle Farm.
“He’s a little bit different to what we’ve seen in previous years in the runners we’ve taken down there, but it’s certainly not an afterthought race. We’ve had this race in mind for some time.”
He was also confident Brindavan would run the 1800m trip, which will be a test for many stepping up from the 1500m prelude won by Declichy Boulevard. The Chris Waller-trained mare was a $4 favourite for Saturday.
“Transatlantic was coming off winning a group 1 in the Toorak and had that group 1 mile form,” he said.
“This horse has got good, solid city class mile form up here, but I think what’s not in the consideration here is the trip.
“He will get the trip, and there’s probably a few in this race where there’s a question mark about running a strong 1800. Transatlantic last year, that was probably the query on him, but he ran awfully well.
“We’ve come close in this race, so hopefully this is the year.
“We’ve been thereabouts, anywhere between favourite and 20-1, like we sort of are on the weekend, but he’s the right profile of horse for this race and I wouldn’t be taking him if I didn’t think he had a chance. He profiles different to the others I’ve taken down, but, to me, he profiles like a horse who will run well.”
Ben Thompson rides Brindavan from gate eight.
“He’s a lovely go-forward horse, he’ll lob anywhere I would imagine in the first three pairs,” Gollan said.
“We saw him with a new string to his bow the other day, sitting outside leader and careering away, so he’s pretty versatile.
“When we bought him, with his profile, we were thinking more winter carnival, but I think he’s developed really into a nice mile-2000m horse.
“Whether we bring him back and we target some of the good mile races through the summer or we give him a break, depends on how he runs Saturday.”
