Having never ridden in Victoria as a senior jockey, in-form Queensland hoop Tegan Harrison is thrilled to be opening her at Flemington this weekend, and will partnering veteran gelding Temple Of Boom in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m).
Veteran sprinter Temple Of Boom will resume in this weekend's Bobbie Lewis Quality. Photo: Daniel Costello
Without doubt the most experienced runner confirmed for the 2014 Bobbie Lewis Quality, Temple Of Boom has not been seen at the races since finishing an agonisingly close second to River Lad in the featured Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7th.
Picking up the ride on the son of Piccolo in what was a resurgence in form over the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, Harrison told AAP she is thrilled to be taking the reins for the first time in Melbourne this weekend and is confident Temple Of Boom’s experience and demeanour will count for a lot in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.
“He is such an honest horse and always tries. He is used to travelling and apparently he has gone well down there,” Harrison said.
“I have never ridden at Flemington but I have been there to have a look. I will be walking the track on Saturday morning to get a feel for it.
“I plan to ask some of the experienced Melbourne jockeys about the way to ride the straight six.
“Everyone tells me the best (jockey) to seek advice from is Damien Oliver so I will be asking his opinion.
“I am really looking forward to the day as it is every jockey’s dream to ride at Flemington.”
Securing a commendable total of eleven wins and 14 minor places over 51 competitive starts to date, Temple Of Boom stamped his claims as a serious contender from his maiden racing preparations through the early stages of 2009.
Arguably hitting career-best form over the autumn and winter of 2012, Temple Of Boom finished a credible sixth in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) behind equine superstar Black Caviar first-up, and while unable to handle the late pace in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, responded in the best way possible when breaking through for a maiden victory at the highest level of Australian racing in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) in April.
Steadily building to the task upon returning to the track this year, the gelding out of Temple Spirit secured mid-pack finishes in both The Galaxy and the Group 2 Sebring Stakes (1200m) before returning to Brisbane for an impressive win in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) and second to stable mate Spirit Of Boom in in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) most notably in the lead-up to the Stradbroke Handicap.
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