Gollan hoping jockeys can help momentum

Tony Gollan is hoping the rivalry between jockeys Robbie Fradd and Jim Byrne will help him claw his way back to the lead in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership.

Gollan has won the past three Brisbane titles but has had a frustrating start to the season.

He has had 21 seconds but a treble at Doomben on Saturday helped him lop two winners off Robert Heathcote’s lead.

Heathcote, who won with Sea Red on Saturday, leads 21-18 in what is proving a close early season contest.

Fradd rode two of Gollan’s winners – two-year-old She’s Our Star and the impressive Most Important while Byrne was aboard Brazen Moss.

“It is good to have a bit of rivalry between Robbie and Jim for rides. It means they are both being kept on their toes and want to ride at their best,” Gollan said.

“Tegan Harrison also rides a lot for me.

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“It has been a frustrating start to the season but I am learning a bit more and we have some nice horses coming along,”

Fradd rode four winners on Saturday and moved to second place on the Brisbane jockeys premiership with 19 winners – six behind leader and fellow expat South African Jeff Lloyd.

“I have been riding trackwork at Eagle Farm and I am starting to get to know the horses I am riding. It’s hard work but it is paying off,” Fradd said.

Unfortunately, for Fradd he won’t be able to capitalise on his 10 metropolitan winners in the past fortnight after being suspended for nine days at Eagle farm last Monday.

In a day jokingly referred to as “Veterans Day” eight of the nine Doomben winners were ridden by five senior jockeys with a combined age of 245.

Apprentice Matt McGillivray was delighted when he got one for the younger brigade on Pepperano in the last race.

“Finally one for the next generation,” he said .