The chance to dodge Sydney’s big gun sprinters and test the waters in Melbourne will be enough to lure Mark Newnham south with improving gelding Big Parade.
The Group 1 placegetter will resume in the Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 23 and if he shows a liking for the reverse way of going, it could open the door to more Victorian assignments.
“You avoid Nature Strip and Eduardo, it’s a Group 1, $1 million race and if we go to the Moir, it will give him the option of returning for the Manikato (Stakes) or coming back here and running in a Sydney Stakes,” Newnham said.
“It will give us an extra option if he gets around there well and performs well.”
Big Parade finished third to Sejardan in a recent Warwick Farm barrier trial and will trial again on Thursday before he resumes in the Moir Stakes.
With several Everest slots yet to be filled, Newnham hasn’t ruled out heading to the rich sprint with the six-year-old but says he will need to make a significant impact in Melbourne to come into calculations.
“There hasn’t been any interest in him so far,” he said.
“If he wins the Moir, I’m sure there will be and if he doesn’t, we can run in a $2 million race, be it the Sydney Stakes or Manikato Stakes.”
The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass has also been mentioned as a potential Everest candidate and his chances of gaining a slot will either sink or swim when he takes on Nature Strip, Eduardo, Classique Legend and co in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 17.
The speedster led throughout to defeat Nature Strip in a Canterbury barrier trial last Thursday, but Baker is all too aware Overpass has to rise to another level on race day.
“We set ourselves a high benchmark and even to win a trial like that, we’re pretty happy,” Baker said.
“I think the timing is perfect with two weeks and two days until The Shorts.
“He has to really put his hand up next start, but he has definitely improved since the autumn.”
