Gollan And McAlpine Strike Gold With Theft

Wednesday, 12 October 2011 05:30

Trainer Tony Gollan and breeder Colin McAlpine continued their successful association at Doomben when aptly-named Theft completed a hat-trick of wins.

Theft, ridden by Chris Munce, stretched his winning sequence with a commanding length victory over General Shareef in Wednesday's Mater Dei School Handicap (1200m).

Gollan and McAlpine have struck a formidable association together in recent times, notably with Temple Of Boom following the sprinter's wins in the Group Three Aurie's Star and Group Two Gilgai Stakes at Flemington during the spring.

McAlpine, who is the principal at Eureka Stud at Cambooya on Queensland's Darling Downs, bred Theft and is confident the four-year-old can measure up in much stronger company.

The son of Break The Vault is out of the American-bred mare Future World who has been a prolific producer at stud.

From 10 foals to race, seven have gone on to be successful on the racetrack.

"She's been very good to us and I've got another three-year-old which looks pretty good but she's just come into work," McAlpine said.

Theft won his previous two starts in Class 1 and 2 company at Ipswich but McAlpine believes the gelding can be a future Saturday winner in the city.

"We were going to run him this Saturday but we chose this race instead not knowing it was going to be such a strong field," McAlpine said.

Munce was full of praise after Theft took his record to four wins from 11 starts.

"He'll be even better once he learns to switch off," Munce said.

"He did a good job and looks promising."

Meanwhile, stewards will challenge Larry Cassidy's successful appeal against a three-month suspension over his ride on beaten favourite Trump at Doomben last month.

Racing Queensland Limited's first-level appeal committee gave Cassidy the "benefit of the doubt" when upholding his appeal against the lengthy sentence.

Trump finished third as odds-on favourite over 1615m after being caught wide throughout.

Chief steward Wade Birch said stewards took the view the ride from Cassidy was "inexcusable" and fell short of a rider of his capabilities and experience.

"We haven't yet lodged the appeal as we're still waiting on the official reason why the appeal was upheld," Birch said.

"The appeals body has five working days from the hearing to submit their official reason before we can lodge our appeal."