Isotope earns tick of approval for Sydney autumn carnival mission

Tony Gollan has given Isotope the tick of approval for a Sydney autumn carnival raid after the star Queensland filly was given the jumpout confidence-booster she needed after last being seen dislodging her jockey in the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Isotope had won consecutive stakes races and was the $2.15 favourite for the $2 million Guineas in January but there were dramatic scenes when jockey Ryan Maloney came off the filly after straightening and he crashed to the turf.

Isotope had clipped the heels of arch rival Away Game and Maloney was devastated post-race, insisting he would have won if he hadn’t fallen, but he will now get a chance at Sydney autumn riches.

Isotope returned to the barriers on Tuesday when she had a 1000m jumpout at Doomben.

Watch Jonker (inside yellow colours) and Isotope (outside, black colours) go toe to toe in their 1000m Doomben jumpout this morning and hear from trainer Tony Gollan and jockeys Jim Byrne and Ryan Maloney. #bneraces@tonygollan@Black_Soil_Bskpic.twitter.com/6CRul46U9x

Doomben jump-outs 1000m.
1st, Jonker, Good (no Blk’s)
2nd, Isotope, Outstanding! pic.twitter.com/oiFeRrIDTK

Gollan was delighted with her second placing as she trucked up behind stablemate Jonker.

“There was a bit going on at the barriers with another horse getting scratched, it wouldn’t load, so it was the longest Isotope has ever been in the gates,” Gollan said.

“So I was really happy that she handled that well and she trialled exceptionally well.

“It was good to see her have that confidence today to be able to begin and still put herself in a good spot and if she was asked for an effort she would have won the trial.

“I had her checked out three times after Magic Millions day but there was nothing wrong, she was fine.

“She will go to the Listed Darby Munro Stakes on Golden Slipper day (March 20) and then hopefully onto the (Group 2) Arrowfield Sprint on the second day of The Championships.

“Her two-year-old form around Rothfire probably says that she is up to taking on some good horses and it’s pretty easy to see she has come back better as a three-year-old.”

Isotope will to Sydney for the Darby Munro Stakes on March 20. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside PhotographySource:The Courier-Mail

Jonker has won two of three starts for Gollan since leaving the David Atkins stable, including a stakes race and most recently the $1 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Snippets.

Gollan is eyeing off The Galaxy at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day – the race that gave Gollan his first Group 1 win with Temple Of Boom in 2012 – for Jonker. But he also plans to nominate Jonker for the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley the night before.

“He will be nommed for the William Reid as well, I’m just a little bit worried about really wet tracks for him,” Gollan said. “But Sydney would be my preferred option.”

Gollan was also pleased with a jumpout from unbeaten filly Miami Fleiss at Doomben, indicating she will take her place in the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO race on the Gold Coast on Saturday week.

Originally published asStar filly back on track for Sydney autumn raid

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