Racing: Spirit Of Boom on trial for Telegraph campaign

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A forecast for further showers has added to trainer Tony Gollan's frustration with stablemates Listen Son and Spirit Of Boom ahead of the group three George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Listen Son returned home after his mystery first-up failure in the Tab.com.au Stakes at Flemington in October to win the listed Keith Noud Quality at Eagle Farm last month.

Gollan still doesn't know what caused Listen Son to fail in Melbourne and was surprised with the gelding's turnaround in form to win the Keith Noud Quality and was also dismayed with Spirit Of Boom's performance to finish ninth in the 1200m feature.

"The last thing I want for both of them is rain," Gollan said.

"They are both better on top of the ground and if the track gets worse than slow I won't run Listen Son.

"Spirit Of Boom will run no matter what but I've been very frustrated with his two runs this campaign.

"Ric [jockey McMahon] wasn't that disappointed with his run in the Keith Noud but I thought it was very ordinary."

Gollan will decide after the George Moore Stakes whether Spirit Of Boom will head to New Zealand for the Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on January 21.

"New Zealand is on the cards for Spirit Of Boom but he'll need to win on Saturday and that's another reason why I want this rain to go away.

"The prizemoney for The Telegraph is not great but he's some chance of going over if he can win. But he'll need to lift his form a hell of a lot."

Gollan has the option of staying at home with Spirit Of Boom for the listed Lough Neagh Stakes on December 24 and next month's Magic Millions carnival is also on the entire's doorstep.

"If he doesn't go to New Zealand I can aim him for either the Magic Millions Sprint or Magic Millions Cup," he said.

Gollan has reached into his bag of tricks and will change gear on Spirit Of Boom again.

"He's won all his races in blinkers but he was racing below form last campaign so I took them off," he said.

"When I took him to Melbourne I said at the time it may have been a rush of blood to put them back on but maybe it was the right thing to do.

"This time I'm going halfway and he'll wear winkers."AAP