In-form The Harrovian will have to confirm his reputation as being able to carry big weights if he is to claim a $200,000 bonus in Cairns.
The Harrovian is in line for the bonus after winning the Townsville Cup and Cairns Cup, two legs of the Northern Stayers bonus series.
The bonus is $150,000 for a horse winning three legs but if it includes the Cairns Amateurs Cup it rises to $200,000.
The Harrovian has been given 59kg in the $150,000 Cairns Amateurs Cup on Saturday which is 2.5kg more than he carried in the Cairns Cup and 5kg more than in the Townsville Cup.
The Harrovian won with 59.5kg and 60.5kg when trained by Jim Conlan in Victoria and has carried 59kg to victory in at Cairns.
The gelding is raced by a syndicate headed by Tom Hedley who paid $20,000 for The Harrovian as a tried horse in Victoria.
The Harrovian missed nearly a year of racing because of travel sickness but has since won six races and been second twice from eight starts in the north.
Trainer Steve Massingham said although The Harrovian had not raced for five weeks, he had done plenty of work.
“He can have a break after the Cup and might head to Brisbane later this year,” he said.
Hedley is also head of syndicates which race other Cup hopefuls, Follow Suit and Estikhraaj, who are both trained by Lauren Abbott.
“They have both been runner-up in a Cup race in the north. Follow Suit was second in the Cairns Cup and Estikhraaj was second in the Townsville Amateurs Cup,” Abbott said.
“I have been campaigning a small team in the north for the winter and it has been that sort of trip.
“It is a case of glass half full or glass half empty. But it would obviously be nice to finish off with a Cup win.”
