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Premier trainer Tony Gollan is hopeful Ashgrove can give him a second victory in The Wave and revive memories of one of the proudest moments of his life at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Tony Gollan won the inaugural $250,000 feature with A Man To Match in 2020, a day after his wife Jane presented him with his second child, Boyd, a younger brother to daughter Jamieson.
Gollan is also hoping The Wave will be another family affair as Ashgrove is part-owned by his sister, Zoe Daly.
Daly raced Ashgrove in a syndicate headed by his previous owners Aquis Farm and Blacksoil Bloodstock before the majority owners decided to test the market in the week leading up to the Group 3 Winx Stakes at the Sunshine Coast in July last year.
Gollan made his final bid at $200,000 for Ashgrove at the Inglis online sale knowing there was plenty of interest from Singapore and other places and was glad to keep the son of Dundeel in the stable.
He previously was knocked down for $260,000 after going through the Magic Millions sales as a yearling in 2020.
"Some of his existing owners stayed in and a few stable clients bought into him after he was sold online," Gollan said.
Ashgrove did not handle a heavy track in the Winx Guineas, tailing off last in a field of 15 behind Majestic Colour.
He was then spelled but it didn't take long before Ashgrove gave his new owners their first win.
It was at his third start this campaign flashing home to win a Benchmark race over 1500 metres at Eagle Farm on December 21.
"He's going very good at the moment and this is the race we set him for," Gollan said.
"If he wins, we'll back him up in the Subzero on Magic Millions day.
"Fresh up he wasn't ready then second up it was more of a barrier trial in The Gateway as he couldn't get out and was stuck in behind tiring horses.
"He was really good last time at Eagle Farm to win against the tempo.
"He's now fourth up and is stepping up to 1800 metres, which will absolutely suit him."
Connections will pick up $200,000 in bonus prize money if Ashgrove can win for the third time in his 13-start career.
The Wave also carries a wild card into the $1 million Subzero at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.
Gollan has accepted with 10 horses for the Gold Coast meeting including unbeaten filly Skirt the Law in the Gold Pearl for fillies, Le Palmier in the Open Handicap and Spiritualised in the male's division of the Rising Stars.
Skirt The Law has won her only two starts and is eligible for the $500,000 Women In Racing bonus in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic on Saturday week.
