“Just breathe” is also a successful mantra when getting thoroughbred horses to relax – it’s not just for highly-strung humans, according to top Queensland trainer Tony Gollan.
Indeed, it worked for Spiritualised in his comfortable almost two-length triumph in the $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Colts, Geldings and Entires Class 4 Plate over 1300m on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Like Gollan’s winner Latakia in the previous race, Spiritualised ran a disappointing sixth last start in the Gold Edition Plate over 1200m at Eagle Farm on December 17.
But the three-year-old colt bounced back to form in fine fashion – with James Orman on his back – to record an all-the-way triumph.
And the solution? Just breathe.
“He got into a three-way speed battle – he wasn’t in a good rhythm or breathing well,” Gollan told Sky Racing when asked about his last start.
“Today was all about just letting him breathe and get comfortable in his stride.”
Gollan was confident Spiritualised would step up to the 1300m distance on Saturday.
“He’s a horse who myself and Jimmy Orman have got a really high opinion of. He’s a beautiful colt with a lovely action,” Gollan said.
“When he gives himself an opportunity to show his best, that was what you saw today.
“I was really comfortable he’d get this trip. Now he’s got that, I guess we can dare to dream next week.”
Orman echoed those thoughts.
“I spoke to Tony on Tuesday and he said ‘1200 or 1300?’” he said.
“And I said ‘I thought 1300 would be better – he can just take it up the front’.
“I see James (McDonald on sixth-placed Resonator) came out positive, and I thought we’re going to have to burn turf to cross.
“But there’s no other way to do anything with this horse. Once he gets there he’s able to relax underneath me.”
Like Gollan, Orman believes the key to unlocking Spiritualised’s competitive nature is getting him to relax and slow down his breathing.
“It’s all about him breathing. If he breathes, not much can beat him,” he said.
“I can’t wait for next week.”
Of course, next Saturday is the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas over 1425m on the Gold Coast.
“I was really comfortable he’d get this trip. Now he’s got that, I guess we can dare to dream next week,” Gollan said.
“At this point in time he’ll definitely back up. We’ll just get him home and make sure he’s in good order.
“We’ll give him a nice week and make some decisions later on.”
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