Temple of Boom provided his connections with a memorable success at racing’s elite level when he sprinted away with today’s Group One Galaxy Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.

The win was the first at Group One level for trainer Tony Gollan and the first in Australia for gun kiwi hoop James McDonald.

A $40,000 purchase for Gollan from the Eureka Thoroughbreds draft at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Temple of Boom sent his earnings soaring over $1 million with his biggest win to date.

“It’s unbelievable at the moment, I’m pretty speechless,” a delighted Gollan said in the moments after the race.

“We had him a little soft a couple of weeks ago. But we stuck to our plan and the track dried out and that’s the way it went.”

“He rode him great today – rode him closer and the horse has done the job like he’s done so many times.”

“The instructions are very easy. I don’t have to tell him anything – it takes a hell of a lot of pressure off me.”

“This is as good as it gets,” Gollan added.

Gollan is currently planning to move his base from Toowoomba to Eagle Farm and he’s been busily buying at recent Magic Millions sales, particularly on the Gold Coast.

“We are trying to better our stable and this horse is our flag bearer. We couldn’t have asked for a better horse to get us on our journey.”

The win was the fourth on the day for New Zealand’s record breaking rider James McDonald.

“I’ve only ever been beaten on his horse once,” McDonald said. “He’s a fantastic horse to me.”

“I just can’t believe I’ve won a Group One race in Sydney.”

“It’s a place I’ve always wanted to ride and what a day it’s been!”

“He (Gollan) is a fantastic bloke and the whole team around him has done a fantastic job with the horse and to peak him for the Galaxy today was awesome.”

“I thought he might have got to the front too soon today. He started to float around a little bit but he was just too good – and with 57 on his back it was a great effort,” McDonald added.

A winner of 10 of his 29 starts, Temple of Boom is one of two stakes winners, from three to race, for Temple Spirit.

An eight time winning and stakes performer by Special Dane, Temple Spirit is also the dam of the $700,000 earner and recent Magic Millions Cup winner Spirit of Boom.

Combined the pair have cost Gollan and their connections $130,000 and earned a staggering and always increasing $1,788,145 in prizemoney.

Winner: Temple of Boom
Breeding: Piccolo-Temple Spirit (Special Dane)
Race: ATC Galaxy Handicap G1 (1100m)
Sold for: $40,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Eureka Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Tony Gollan
Earnings: $1,090,245
Owner(s): Mrs P Gollan, Eureka Stud Syndicate (Mgrs: C & S McAlpine), A Gamble, J Riddle, B Siemsen, A Dunemann & J Schloss
Trainer: Tony Gollan (Toowoomba)