Temple of Boom scored an emotional win for his Toowoomba based connections when he did best in a competitive $200,000 Myer Magic Millions Sprint (1000m) at the Gold Coast.

Sent out the hot favourite with on and off course punters, Temple of Boom was able to scrape home and beat Huckleberry Dane by a short head.

In a driving finish Atomic Force was a further neck back in third place.

Tony Gollan, trainer of the winner, described the win as one of the real highlights of his training career.

“It was very good – a bit too close for my liking, but he got there,” Gollan said.

“He was held in there for a long time and then he got out and he knuckled down really well.”

“It’s a big weight off my shoulders. He’s kept going up in weight every start this horse.”

“We’re awfully proud of him. He never runs a bad race.”

“We planned this race for him 12 months ago for this horse and we’re pleased to get him here today and get a result.”

“I’d never trained a winner on Magic Millions Day. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do – being a Queensland boy.”

Gollan didn’t know until late in the week even if he’d be able to get his sprint star to the track after the flood disaster which particularly struck the Toowoomba region.

“It’s been a tough week for a lot of people in Queensland,” Gollan said.

“It was a very eerie drive down here today. We went past a lot of areas that looked a lot different when I last went past.”

“It’s good to get down here to some festivities on the Gold Coast. Everyone’s putting their hand in their pocket – it’s amazing the spirit of this country.”

Temple of Boom will most likely have a short break prior to a crack at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“He’ll have two weeks off now and we’ll get him ready for Sydney. Perhaps a race like the Galaxy – it’s a handicap and he should go down in the weights,” Gollan summed up.

A graduate of the McAlpine family’s Eureka Stud, Temple of Boom was purchased by Gollan for $40,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He’s won seven of his 18 starts and his earnings have raced to over $580,000.

A son of Piccolo, Temple of Boom is one of two stakes winners, from two runners, for the stakes performed Special Dane mare Temple Spirit.

As well as Temple of Boom, Temple Spirit is the dam of the stakes winning juvenile Spirit of Boom.