Trainer Rod Northam has confirmed that talented sprinter Big Money will contest the 2014 George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Big Money will return to Brisbane racing in the 2014 George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Big Money started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a close fourth behind Bel Sprinter, Miracles Of Life and Shamal Wind in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) on October 18, but he finished close to the tail of the field in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.
Northam was very happy with the first-up run of Big Memory and he told Sky Racing HQ that the Choisir gelding had plenty of excuses for his poor performance behind Deep Field in the Salinger Stakes.
“It was a great run and very pleasing, but the second run was a little disappointing,” Northam said.
“I think it was a combination of a few things.
“He got quiet stirred up at the barriers when the horse beside him played up and he got quiet on the toe.
“When he jumped he probably wanted to go a bit keen and he got flushed out a little bit early.
“When he pulled up he had a bit gulp as if he got his tongue caught over the bit.
“There were a few little things that added up to the disappointing run.”
Northam gave Big Money a couple of quiet days in the paddock after he returned to Scone, but has stepped up the work to the five-year-old in the past fortnight and was very pleased with the way the five-year-old worked at Muswellbrook on Friday afternoon.
The Scone-based trainer confirmed that Big Money would return to Brisbane for the first time since he took out the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 21 and he is confident that his star galloper can bounce back to his best in the George Moore Stakes.
“He had a little bit of a freshen-up and we didn’t do much with him the week after Melbourne,” Northam said.
“He came back home and just had a couple of days in the paddock to get over the trip home.
“We have just been working along since then and he had a nice gallop on Friday at Muswellbrook after the races.
“Robert rode him and was very happy with him.
“He seemed to think that he was on target, so we will be heading up there and giving it a go on Saturday.
“He will travel up to Warwick on Thursday and then go to the races on Saturday morning.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and he is going great.”
Big Money was purchased for $75,000 at the 2011 Inglis Scone Select Yearling Sale and has already accumulated almost $350,000 in prizemoney for connections.
