Tony Gollan believes import Brindavan has the timing and profile to challenge for a breakthrough win in the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill on Saturday.
Gollan, Queensland's premier trainer, said Brindavan was a different horse this preparation compared with his first Australian campaign. "He's a totally different beast this preparation," Gollan said. "You will get to see a really nice, furnished racehorse there on Saturday."
The Five Diamonds is a 1800m race for five-year-olds. Gollan's Transatlantic finished second last year, and a year earlier Freedom Rally ran second to Pericles. In 2023 Antino, which later won two group 1s, finished 10th.
Brindavan ($13 TAB) was purchased for about $A515,000 at the 2025 Goffs London Sale. The horse has two wins and two placings in each of his two Australian preparations. His latest victory was a two-and-a-half-length win over 1600m on heavy 10 going at Eagle Farm. Gollan said rain on Saturday would suit.
"He's a little bit different to what we've seen in previous years in the runners we've taken down there, but it's certainly not an afterthought race," Gollan said. "We've had this race in mind for some time."
The trainer was confident Brindavan would see out the 1800m trip, a question mark for some rivals. "Transatlantic last year, that was probably the query on him, but he ran awfully well," he said. "We've come close in this race, so hopefully this is the year."
Ben Thompson rides Brindavan from barrier eight. Gollan described the horse as versatile and capable of racing near the lead.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A win would be Gollan's first in the Five Diamonds after close results in recent years
- The $2 million race is a feature of the Sydney spring carnival, drawing interstate contenders
- Brindavan's form on wet tracks could give him an edge if rain arrives
Background
The Five Diamonds is a 1800m race for five-year-olds at Rosehill. Gollan has finished second in two of the past three runnings: with Transatlantic in 2025 and Freedom Rally in 2024. Brindavan, an import purchased in 2025, has improved this preparation after a modest first Australian campaign.
What to Watch
- Whether rain falls on Saturday, which would favour Brindavan after his heavy-track win
- The horse's ability to handle the step up to 1800m, a distance he has not yet raced over in Australia
- How Brindavan settles from barrier eight under Ben Thompson
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedGollan believes Brindavan has the timing and profile to challenge for a breakthrough win in the $2 million Five Diamonds.WA Today - Latest News: “the premier Queensland trainer believes the improving import has the timing and profile to challenge for a breakthrough win.”
- Not in the sourcesThe Five Diamonds is described as a Sydney race.WA Today - Latest News: “Gollan looked set for victory last year in the race for five-year-olds at Rosehill”
- SupportedGollan said Brindavan was a totally different beast this preparation and would be a furnished racehorse on Saturday.WA Today - Latest News: ““He’s a totally different beast this preparation. You will get to see a really nice, furnished racehorse there on Saturday.””
- SupportedGollan is Queensland’s premier trainer.WA Today - Latest News: “the premier Queensland trainer”
- SupportedThe Five Diamonds is a 1800m race for five-year-olds at Rosehill on Saturday.WA Today - Latest News: “last year in the race for five-year-olds at Rosehill”
- SupportedTransatlantic finished second in the race last year, and Freedom Rally finished second to Pericles a year earlier.WA Today - Latest News: “only for Vivy Air to relegate him to second with a rails run. A year earlier, $15 shot Freedom Rally stormed down the outside to beat all but Pericles.”
- SupportedAntino finished 10th in 2023 and later won two group 1s.WA Today - Latest News: “In 2023, Antino, which went on to win two group 1s, finished 10th.”
- SupportedBrindavan was bought for about A$515,000 at the 2025 Goffs London Sale.WA Today - Latest News: “Gollan and First Light Racing paid about $A515,000 (250,000 pounds) at the 2025 Goffs London Sale for Brindavan”
- SupportedBrindavan has two wins and two placings in each of his two Australian preparations.WA Today - Latest News: “which has two wins and two placings in each of his two Australian preparations.”
- SupportedBrindavan’s latest win was by two and a half lengths over 1600m at Eagle Farm on heavy 10 going.WA Today - Latest News: “His latest victory was a two and a half-length domination in a 1600m open handicap at Eagle Farm on heavy 10 going”
- SupportedGollan said rain on Saturday would suit Brindavan.WA Today - Latest News: “if we’re lucky enough to get some rain on the day, even better, from what we saw the other day at Eagle Farm.”
- SupportedBen Thompson rides Brindavan from barrier eight, and Gollan described the horse as versatile and able to race near the lead.WA Today - Latest News: “Ben Thompson rides Brindavan from gate eight. “He’s a lovely go-forward horse, he’ll lob anywhere I would imagine in the first three pairs,” Gollan said. “We saw him with a new string to his bow the other day, sitting outside leader and careering away, so he’s pretty versatile.””