22/04/2026
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See you trackside 🥂
By Tony Mc Mahon
The Sherrin Rentals 2026 $1M The Archer - 62 days and Counting - Sunday, May 3.
The idiom try, try and try again sums it up fittingly for The Archer slot holders Archer Park when that group makes its fourth attempt to win the spoils and magnificent winners trophy just on nine weeks away.
This year the group headed by Bundaberg business man and racing entity Chris Wessel have changed tactics at their fifth attempt for The Archer laurels.
“We haven’t gone shopping so to speak chasing a representative from outside stables but have targeted one of our own horses and specifically set him for The Archer”, Chris told me this morning (Monday, March 2).
On queue, naturally I asked - “who would that be Chris?”
“Boomtown Boss”, came the immediate enthusiastic reply.
Now you’re talking I thought to myself knowing full well the Tony Gollan trained 4YO was a class act.
“We had Sandpaper last year from Bjorn Baker (5th) but he was coming towards the end of his preparation. The others we had in past in The Archer finished for memory just behind the place getters (including Eaglemont - sixth 2024) but we felt it would be best to have a horse just set for The Archer. Being fortunate enough to race Boomtown Boss we believe we have just that horse”, Chris explained.
After perusing his record (Boomtown Boss’s not Chris’s) I fully agree.
Trained by Brisbane maestro Tony Gollan, Boomtown Boss is a 4YO gelding which has won five of his 16 starts (1100m to 1400m) and been placed another five times.
He will be first-up in The Archer after going down by only a nose in the $2M Magic Millions Cup (1400m) to King of Roseau at the Gold Coast under Angela Jones on January 17.
Not that he had to mind you, as Boomtown Boss’s form was already quality, but Chris informed King of Roseau capped it by winning at Randwick last Saturday.
Chris was elated to bring to my notice that win before putting on his punter’s hat by admitting when I asked of him did he back that $8.50 winner?
I felt bad when he embarrassingly replied - “no look too smart for that wasn’t I?”
Back tracking quickly to Boomtown Boss there certainly are positives for his tilt at The Sherrin Rentals The Archer.
In three attempts he has never been beaten first -up which will be much in his favour.
When so narrowly beaten last start at the Gold Coast, he came home from 13th on the turn so the 600 metres home straight at Callaghan Park racecourse where The Archer is hosted will be far more suitable.
As for the crucial riding component for Boomtown Boss in The Archer, Chris had this to say.
“We’ll leave that to Tony (Gollan). It will be one of the top Brisbane jockeys you would think”, Wessel said.
Rockhampton’s motor dealer Ian Weight who is a treasured long time major sponsor of The Archer meeting through his dealership with Lexus also shares in the ownership of Boomtown Boss.
Yes indeed the omens are there for a Boomtown Boss victory in Queensland’s richest regional race the $1M WFA The Archer (1300m) at Callaghan Park on Sunday, May 3.
HOOFNOTE: The Yeppoon Turf Club will be arranging a coach pick-up and delivery of racegoers from Rockhampton on Saturday, May 2 to Keppel Park, racecourse and return. The club will have an excellent race meeting to entertain the hundreds of visiting guests in CQ for The Archer meeting. “Book five seats for Archer Park”, Chris Wessel said when informed. More details in the weeks ahead.
