A barrier incident cost Detective the chance to run in a $2 million race and instead the two-year-old has been entered for Canterbury and a share of $85,000.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt was withdrawn from a race at Randwick on Boxing Day after he lunged at the barrier gate and was found to have blood in his mouth and abrasions on his nose.
Without the opportunity to bolster his prize money, Detective lost his bid for a berth in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
He is one of 11 youngsters entered for Saturday’s 1200m race in Sydney and gets the chance to show what could have been with the Paul Perry-trained Jeanneau, winner of the Randwick race, also in the mix.
The Snowdens will have three runners in the Gold Coast race – Capitalist, Niccolance and Mooshakissa.
The 1100m-sprint for older horses at Canterbury is headed by Territory and the in-form Rule The River.
Trainer Anthony Cummings’ preferred option for Rule The River is Friday’s Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford with the mare entered on Saturday as a precaution against the wet weather.
Since she began her latest campaign in early November, Rule The River has been unstoppable, winning four on end.
Territory is also entered for Gosford while another Canterbury entrant, Straturbo, will head to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) now that he is safely in the 12-horse field.
The Gary Portelli-trained sprinter won the Gold Coast race last year when it was worth $200,000 but with the rise to $1 million, the trainer is keen to win it again.
“All’s well with Straturbo and Brenton Avdulla will ride,” Portelli said.
The trainer has Zafina entered against Detective after the filly also missed her chance to qualify for the Magic Millions when second at Gosford last week.
