Gollan's Baller Looking to Back Up

Having his first start for the Tony Gollan stable last time out, when successful in the Listed Goldmarket at the Gold Coast Turf Club, 5YO gelding Baller (High Chaparral-Fuwa, by Encosta de Lago) is looking to add a second stakes-win in as many starts for his new trainer when he contests Saturday's Gr2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm. With a win and a third placed effort from four second up runs, Baller commenced his career in NSW with Anthony Cummings where he recorded four wins and a solid fifth in the Gr1 Galaxy from his first ten starts. After a short stint in the Chris Waller yard, Baller was then transferred to the Queensland stable of Gollan with immediate success. From the small field of nine runners there appear to be more winning chances than not, headlined by the Gr2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Stakes winner Splintex (Redoute's Choice-Acquired, by O'Reilly), who finished sixth, beaten just over 1.5-lengths last time out in the Gr1 Doomben 10,000 behind Eduardo (Host), less than a length behind last Saturday's Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Vega Magic (Lope de Vega); another with a leading hope is the last start Listed Chief De Beers Stakes winners Varda (Lonhro-Wild Queen, by Loup Sauvage), who is also an acceptor in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m).