Flemington was full of drama for the Group 3 Aurie’s Star (1200m) on Saturday with the post-time removal of a race favourite and protest, though Boomtown Boss survived the trials to salute.
Group 1-winning galloper War Machine, the market fancy, burst through the barriers upon loading and darted up the straight, forcing his removal from the contest.
Meanwhile, the Daniel Moor-ridden Boomtown Boss was very easy to back, drifting from an opening price of $5 to $15 come start time.
From the innermost gate, Moor tucked the Spirit Of Boom gelding behind the leaders before producing him to challenge at the 400m.
At the 100m, he finally claimed early front-runner Arkansaw Kid ($4.80) but Royal Insignia ($9) was finishing with a flurry and drew level with momentum.
But the Tony Gollan-trained Boomtown Boss fought doggedly and pulled away in the concluding stages to score by a neck.
However, the race was not yet won with Royal Insignia’s connections firing in an objection that Moor had whipped his mount more times than permissible.
Stewards deliberated but dismissed the protest despite issuing Moor with a 10-meeting suspension and $3,500 fine.
“It’s nice to be back and nice to get on a horse like this,” said Moor, who had moved from Victoria to Queensland last year.
“Tony is the ultimate professional. Ever since I’ve been there, it’s amazing about how much information he has and the depth of what the team go through with race planning and track-walking and things like that.
“He came here a little unknown coming down the straight. He did wander around a bit and changed legs a lot, but you just know that when you ride a Tony Gollan horse they will be prepared to the minute.”
Gollan won his first Aurie’s Star in 2011 with Temple Of Boom, ridden by a then 19-year-old apprentice James McDonald.
“I felt for a little while he’d make a nice straight horse,” Gollan said.
“His winter prep was going nowhere, everything was going wrong and I knew this race was on the cards, so we backed off him and we decided to bring him down early.
“We sent him down to Ciaron (Maher) and Jack (Turnbull) with the team at Cranbourne. He’s been down there for about a month just to settle him in.
“I thought the trip away and the straight racing, I had a hunch it would suit him and I knew halfway through the race I was pretty right as I could see how well he was travelling and I knew he’s got a good finish on him.”
Ben Hayes, co-trainer of War Machine, later reported that the scratched galloper had hit his head upon exit of the gates but it was a minor injury.
