Leading Perth owner Bob Peters has put prize money ahead of prestige in selecting the Sydney spring carnival for Arcadia Queen.
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller will take over the preparation of the rising four-year-old who could be racing for the lion’s share of $20 million in two races in Sydney.
Peters has his eyes on the $14 million Everest along with the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle rather than the $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
The Everest (1200m) is at Randwick on October 19 and the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2 with the Cox Plate (2040m) sandwiched in between.
“As a racing purist I would love to win a Cox Plate,” Peters told RSN927.
“I think it’s the greatest race in Australia, but money talks.
“We’ve got a big operation to run and there’s a lot of expenses and stakes are what keep us going.”
Arcadia Queen has not raced since winning the Group One Kingston Town Stakes at Ascot in December.
Peters said while the filly had been successful at 1800m it did not necessarily mean she would stretch out to 2000m.
“I’ve got no qualms about running her over the 1200 metres because it’s on the Randwick track which is a long straight and uphill,” Peters said.
Peters chose Waller to train Arcadia Queen following a meeting with the trainer during the Easter sale in Sydney.
“If we’re going to Sydney I believe they need to be trained in Sydney,” Peters said.
“I went and had a meeting with Chris and his people at his stables when I was over there for the Easter sales and I was impressed with his operation.”
Peters is also sending Winterbottom Stakes runner-up Enticing Star to Sydney hoping she can get a slot in The Everest but multiple stakes winner Celebrity Dream will stay home after injuring herself in a paddock accident.
At this stage Peters does not have an Everest slot for either Aracadia Queen or Enticing Star horse although he has had discussions with slot holders.
A group under the banner of Chris Waller Racing holds a slot.