Scone trained sprinter Big Money has remained firm in the betting in the Group 3 $200,000 Channel Seven George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Big Money is having his first run back in Queensland since beating Cape Kidnappers in the W.J. Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm, above, in June. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Rodney Northam trained Big Money is returning to the Sunshine State for the first time since beating Cape Kidnappers in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm during the latter part of the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
The Choisir five year old has been listed as the second favourite at $4.40 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind Cape Kidnappers at $4.20 with the Tony Gollan trained Someday at $6.50 and last start Doomben winner Time To Plunder at $8.50 after opening at $10.
The Kelly Schweida trained Cape Kidnappers is having his first run since the W.J. Healy Stakes while Big Money is coming off an unsuccessful Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign.
Big Money was sent out the favourite when a handy fourth behind dead heaters Miracles Of Life and Bel Sprinter in the Group 2 $200,000 Perri Cutten Caulfield Sprint (1100m) at Caulfield on October 18 but then finished near the tail of the field when ninth of ten in the Group 2 $300,000 tab.com.au Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.
Northam was then forced to change plans for Big Money, cancelling a trip to Perth to run in the Group 1 $750,000 Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot and instead set his sights on an easier campaign back in Queensland.
“We were originally thinking about going to Perth until he was a bit disappointing in the Group Two in Melbourne,” Northam told AAP.
Northam highlighted a couple of things that went against Big Money up the straight at Flemington and in the end was prepared to forget the run.
“As it turned out drawing the one barrier was probably the worst thing that happened. He was simply on the wrong part of the track,” Northam said.
An easy week back at Scone was enough to freshen up Big Money before Northam prepared him for another trip north.
“I gave him an easy week after his run in Melbourne, four or five days in the paddock at home and then just trained him up for this race,” Northam said.
Northam is looking forward to Big Money meeting Cape Kidnappers again after the pair have an one all score card following their two clashes in June.
Cape Kidnappers took the honours in the Listed $100,000 Evergreen Turf Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm before the placings were reversed in the W.J. Healy Stakes.
Journeyman Robert Thompson will again be aboard Big Money who has drawn nicely at barrier four while Damian Browne will stick with Cape Kidnappers who has drawn awkwardly near the outside of the twelve horse field at gate ten.
