Fontelina caps comeback with milestone win

Saturday 12 December 2015, 6:07pm

Comeback galloper Fontelina passed $1 million in prize money in continuing trainer Tony Gollan's plunder of the Brisbane summer carnival stakes races at Doomben on Saturday.

Fontelina ($4.80) appreciated fast early pace to steam home to beat the favourite Saluter ($3.80) by 1-3/4 lengths with a long neck to Weinholt ($4.20) in third place in the $100,000 Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.

It was Fontelina's first win since the 2013 Melbourne Cup carnival.

Originally trained by Anthony Cummings in Sydney, Fontelina's career was stalled after suffering an injury after running second in the 2014 William Reid Stakes.

Fontelina ran in the Brisbane winter for Cummings and then was transferred to Gollan and he was having his fourth run for the stable on Saturday.

"I am really pleased this horse has won as he has had a lot of problems," Gollan said.

Fontelina will now press on to the Goldmarket at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day and then the Magic Millions Cup on the Gold Coast January 9.

The sprinter took his prize money to $1,089,500.

Brisbane's premier trainer, Gollan declared he would dominate the Brisbane summer carnival and he has now won six stakes races since the carnival opened in late November.

Saluter, who also passed $1 million in prize money with his second, is also headed to the Magic Millions Cup.

"This horse is racing well and it was a brave run today," said trainer Robert Heathcote.

Earlier, Heathcote continued his good run with veterans when eight-year-old Jopa ($7.50) won the Mount Franklin Handicap.

Heathcote said Jopa, who was having his first start since August, had always raced well fresh and was still relishing racing.

"Drawing barrier one was an advantage today but he did hit the line very well," Heathcote said.

Apprentice Emma Ljung rode her first city winner since returning from a serious injury when Tangara ($17) won the Canadian Club Handicap (2200m).

– AAP

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