Clear punters pick Big Money has justified his resounding pre-post from punters, displaying an impressive final straight sprint to win the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse this afternoon.
Big Money has won the 2014 Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes. Photo: Daniel Costello
Jumping from the gates only fairly, the Choisir gelding was forced to settle well of the pace of early leaders Adebisi, Howmuchdoyouloveme and Seeking More, who set a reasonable tempo over the back straight and approaching the bend.
Continuing to sit close to the rear of the field along with clear favourites Cape Kidnappers and Bennetta rounding onto the final straight, veteran jockey Robert Thompson steered Big Money through the field, quickly making up ground on the leaders and poking a nose clear of Cape Kidnappers on the line, Seeking More running on for third.
Trainer Rodney Northam was understandably pleased with Big Money’s performance in the 2014 W.J. Healy Stakes, crediting Thompson for a typically exceptional ride.
“I wasn’t too worried when he was back, and turning for home I could see Robert was easing it out and would soon be travelling, so I was pretty confident,” Northam said after the race.
“He can run great sectionals and can really hit the line.”
Geared towards the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on July 9th, Northam said he was leading towards not running Big Money in the W.J. Healy, but decided to accept as a result of the weather and track condition.
“That will set him up nicely for Grafton. When the weather looked good and he’d just done so well I thought it could bucket down the night before the Ramornie, so I thought we’d take today,” Northam added.
“We just try to keep him winning and keep him confident, and that’s the main thing.”
Robert Thompson secured his 4013th race win in partnering Big Money to the 2014 W.J. Healy crown, and was quick to lay the praise on horse and trainer following the victory.
“This little bloke can really gallop well,” Thompson said.
“I was going to get back, they went at a million miles an hour but I got off the dig a bit coming around the corner but to his credit he knuckled down and finished the race off very well.
“He’s a very honest little horse and his trainer Rod Northam has done a marvellous job with him.”
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2014 W.J. Healy Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | BIG MONEY | Rodney Northam | Robert Thompson | 10 | 54kg | $6 |
| 2 | 2 | CAPE KIDNAPPERS | Kelly Schweida | Damian Browne | 6 | 58kg | $3.60F |
| 3 | 8 | SEEKING MORE | Kelso Wood | Glen Boss | 1 | 54kg | $18 |
| 4 | 7 | BENNETTA | Grahame Begg | Tommy Berry | 8 | 55kg | $3.80 |
| 5 | 5 | FACILE TIGRE | Jason McLachlan | Eddie Wilkinson | 9 | 56.5kg | $17 |
| 6 | 9 | METALLURGICAL | John P Thompson | Ric McMahon | 4 | 54kg | $14 |
| 7 | 3 | EXCELLANTES | Robert Heathcote | Timothy Bell | 7 | 57.5kg | $16 |
| 8 | 6 | ROCKY KING | Tom Bourke | Tegan Harrison (a) | 5 | 56kg | $21 |
| 9 | 1 | HOWMUCHDOYOULOVEME | Con Karakatsanis | Nash Rawiller | 3 | 60kg | $7.50 |
| 10 | 4 | ADEBISI | Desleigh Forster | Michael Cahill | 2 | 56.5kg | $31 |
