A successful Brisbane Summer Carnival campaign will see smart sprinter Big Money return to Queensland in the winter for the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Trainer Rodney Northam is contemplating a start in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm for his sprinter Big Money, above. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Big Money already has had success at this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival with a win over Cape Kidnappers in the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm and will be back in the Sunshine State again on Saturday to contest the Group 3 $200,000 Channel Seven George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
The Kelly Schweida trained Cape Kidnappers will be having his first run back from a spell in the George Moore Stakes and Scone trainer Rodney Northam is looking forward to the rematch.
“We take on Cape Kidnappers again. They’ve had a couple of nice little duels but hopefully it will work out our way on Saturday,” Northam told AAP.
The two sprinters have an one all score card following their two clashes in June with Cape Kidnappers taking 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.
After Saturday’s run Big Money will line up in the Listed $175,000 Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben in a fortnight and a good performance will also put the Group 1 $750,000 Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 23 on the agenda.
“The Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke look to be lovely races for him,” Northam said.
“Winter is the time where he can realistically win a good race instead of running a nice fourth or fifth.”
Big Money will be better suited in the George Moore Stakes after coming off an unsuccessful Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign.
The chestnut gelding 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.
In early George Moore Stakes betting with Ladbrokes.com.au Big Money is make as the $4.40 second favourite just behind Cape Kidnappers at $4.20.
The Tony Gollan trained Someday is next in the betting at $6.50 and last start Doomben winner Time To Plunder is at $8.50 after opening at $10.
