Trainer Michael Trotter hopes a trip to Bendigo will turn into a lucrative payday.
The Cranbourne-based Trotter will saddle debutant Beaunified in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) on Saturday as he chases a second winner for the week after Rumbled Again scored at Sandown on Wednesday.
Saturday’s race carries a first prize of $137,5000 with a further $30,000 in VOBIS bonus money.
Beaunified is a son of Brazen Beau from the Exceed And Excel mare Hampton Classic who was purchased by Trotter for $65,000 at last year’s Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Trotter and connections of Beaunified have already knocked back lucrative offers from Hong Kong for the unraced gelding.
“After I bought him, he was syndicated and there are a lot with 2.5% shares, so when the offers came, they weren’t interested,” Trotter said.
“They’re in it for the fun rather than the money.”
While the two-year-old has not officially trialled, the gelding has been given a thorough grounding for his debut with three jump-outs at Cranbourne.
Beaunified was successful over 650m in December before finishing second in his past two, once over 650m in February and more recently over 800m on March 14.
“His first jump-out before Christmas, it was only 650 metres, but it was good and he’s built for speed,” Trotter said.
“He’s just been getting better and better, and he’s come on massively since his last jump-out.”
Giving Trotter heart ahead of Saturday’s debut was the performance of Apache Song at Pakenham on March 23, when a close second.
Trotter said Saturday’s race had not been planned as the kick-off but had appeared at the right time.
“I knew the race was there, so it’s nice to have a horse that can take you there and hopefully run a nice race,” Trotter said.
“He’s an on-speed horse that can bounce out and travel.
“It’s a strong race and there’s a lot of unknowns, but he’s performed as good as the other two-year-old that I raced at Pakenham the other night, and she only just got beaten.”
