Tony Gollan and Hugh Bowman combined for a memorable win as Baller recorded his second straight Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
The six-year-old gelding got a sweet run in transit in the Group 3 event and put in the big bounds out wide on the track to win by a length.
2022 Moreton Cup Replay
Although the winner of the 1200m scamper earns ballot exemption into next weekend’s Stradbroke Handicap, Gollan said that his son of High Chaparral won’t be backing up.
“Just a different horse today in running,” Gollan said.
“I said to Hughey in running that Wednesday morning he just towed his rider in a gallop and that was the difference today.
“He traveled up in the same spot as last year and he had enough in him to bump that horse out of the road and he had a great turn-of-foot on him.
“He’ll get an awful lot of weight in the Healy Stakes here in three weeks. We’ll see what happens.”
The local trainer enjoyed a running double at Eagle Farm, with Vinco saluting in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap the race prior.
While Gollan won’t be sending Baller around in next Saturday’s Group 1, his quality mare Isotope looks to take her place.
The four-year-old mare is a $15 chance with online bookmakers in the $1.5 million Stradbroke in seven days’ time.
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