McDonald was mindful of ensuring Temple Of Boom got plenty of cover yesterday and had him placed behind a wall of horses most of the way.
He was 14th at the 400m but he unleashed an explosive sprint in the last 200m after McDonald switched him around the heels of horses ahead of him.
In the final 50m, he hit the front and won running away by 1 lengths from winner Sistine Angel, who was resuming, and Response.
Gollan said Temple Of Boom also appreciated the dead track although he feared he might have given away too big a start.
"At one stage, I thought he was back a little bit too far but when he got out he really let down," Gollan said.
McDonald said Temple Of Boom was always travelling and was confident he would finish off strongly.
"I saved him for one last run at the furlong and he did it today," McDonald said.
Mosheen has emerged as the main danger to unbeaten filly Atlantic Jewel in the Thousand Guineas after a runaway win in the Edward Manifold Stakes yesterday.
Owner Phil Sly and jockey Danny Nikolic both recommended blinkers go back on Mosheen after she wore them with great effect at her first two starts for former trainer Leon Corstens to a debut win at Caulfield and second to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper.
Sly transferred the Fastnet Rock filly to Robert Smerdon for her spring preparation after Corstens became ill.
Smerdon took the blinkers off until yesterday but he was worried the gear might have made her pull at her first attempt at 1600m.
Nikolic had Mosheen ($5) travelling well off race leader Taylor's Command and she raced clear in the straight for an impressive 2-length win over Bliss Street ($5.50).
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Celebrity Girl ($2.50 fav), a stablemate of the unbeaten Atlantic Jewel, was three-quarters of a length away third.
"I took them off her and then after her last start Danny said we need them back so I sort of succumbed and it looked like it was the right call," Smerdon said.
"Definitely the Thousand Guineas is her main aim and we're hoping with her pedigree that she'll stretch out and even be here on Oaks day."
Atlantic Jewel is the reigning $1.75 favourite for the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 ahead of Mosheen $4.60.
"Atlantic Jewel is something else," Smerdon said.
- AAP
