Tony Gollan Aiming Amexed At Newcastle Cup

Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is hoping to fire his first shot in the spring carnival with Amexed in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

The Group Three Newcastle Cup (2200m) on Friday will be a spring carnival launching pad for several classy stayers and Gollan doesn't believe Amexed will be out of place.

Among the 17 horses entered on Monday for the Cup are four from the Kris Lees stable as the local trainer attempts to win his home town feature for the first time.

Sense Of Occasion and Slow Pace are last-start winners while former European Singing has finished second in two Australian starts.

Olympic Academy rounds out the Lees quartet.

Gollan said there was not much for Amexed in Queensland.

"There isn't a lot for him in Brisbane at the moment as he isn't a Magic Millions horse," he said.

The now six-year-old won the Group Three Rough Habit Plate as a three-year-old and returned to form when he won the Listed Caloundra Cup and the Ipswich Stayers Final in the winter.

Amexed resumed at Eagle Farm two weeks ago in an open handicap over 1600m, finishing sixth after casting a show in the race.

Gollan was happy with the run and believes the step up to 2200m will suit Amexed.

"It looks to be the right type of grade for him and if he goes well we can start talking about something a bit better," Gollan said.

The trainer is starting to build up his Sydney satellite stable and hopes to have regular runners from October.

He has 20 boxes at Rosehill which are now ready to be used.

"The wet weather in Sydney has held us up a bit but we are getting things together. We have about 40 two year olds and a good percentage of them are BOBs eligible horses," Gollan said.