Tony Gollan described Garibaldi’s win in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben as not the most spectacular of his five wins in the race but one that was as special as any of them.
Garibaldi ($2.90 fav) was a $475,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2018 and the now six-year-old gelding takes his record to eight wins and 11 placings in 33 starts for prizemoney exceeding $615,000.
“I’ve loved him since the day we bought him,” Gollan said.
He’s been a lovely horse from the first day he stepped in the stable and when he won his first two-year-old race at Eagle Farm.
“It has taken a while to get the routine right with him and he’s a lovely big horse but doesn’t like racing under 21 days between runs.
“In the right races he is awfully hard to beat.”
Garibaldi is treading a path through the Queensland Summer Carnival having finished second in the Listed Keith Noud Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on November 12.
“I thought he was a smidgen unlucky the other day but today he got the right ground and Ryan (Moloney) gave him a great steer,” Gollan added.
“It is my fifth George Moore win today and it might not have been the most spectacular but it doesn’t mean any less with this horse.”
Ryan Maloney has been aboard Garibaldi in each of his previous five starts.
“It was a genuinely run race and he travelled beautifully,” Moloney said.
“All the stars aligned today with the barrier and the sting out of the ground.
“He did it all on guts and determination. He’s a determined and honest galloper.
“He’s a stable favourite and you can see why.”
Gaibaldi scored by 1¼-lengths over Contemptuous ($8.50) and Axe ($6) in third.
Gollan now has the challenge of finding another race during the carnival for Garibaldi which is likely to be at listed level and the chance of being penalised in the weights after this victory.