G1 Stradbroke Handicap start in Baller’s court

Baller will be on trial for a Stradbroke Handicap start when he defends is crown in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Tony Gollan resisted the temptation of tackling the Stradbroke with the son of High Chaparral after last year’s 1200-metre race, but the $3 million Group 1 is firmly in his sights this year.

Baller has not started since a seventh placing in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 29, which followed a forgettable Victorian campaign earlier this year, and Gollan is convinced he is going better than his form card suggests.

“I gave him a little freshen up from Melbourne, he was feeling those Melbourne tracks, but he’s come back and I thought his run was really good in restricted room fresh up – better than last year before he won the Moreton – and I was really happy with his trial since,” Gollan said.

“I go to the Moreton full of confidence my horse is very, very well.”

Baller was not nominated for last year’s Stradbroke, meaning connections would have had to pay a late entry fee after his win in the ballot-exempt Moreton Cup, but he is among the entries this year and will carry 54.5kg if he takes his place.

Gollan has given the seven-year-old a different preparation this year, having finished eighth in the Doomben 10,000 the start before last year’s Moreton Cup.

His only public outing since the Victory Stakes this year was a jumpout last week.

“I’ve had a few different plans for him during the Carnival, I never really had a set one, but I just wanted to have a crack at the race (Victory Stakes) I did fresh up with him and then it was a matter of spacing things a little bit,” Gollan said.

“I was going to go to the Kingsford Smith (Cup), but I was more than happy to stay at the Moreton Cup with a trial and then, if he wins, I will go a seven-day back up.”

Baller, who has 57.5kg and barrier seven in the Moreton Cup, will be reunited with Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra.