Sale would be dream Queensland finale

[Wandering Eyes]

Shaune Ritchie will be more than happy if he returns home from the Queensland winter carnival without his final representative on Thursday.

The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, has trade horse Badgers Nuts (NZ) (Rageese) in a Benchmark 65 Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich, with victory to trigger a likely overseas sale.

Ritchie part-owns Badgers Nuts with Gerard Petersen’s Gee Gee Equine and has targeted a softer option after also nominating the three-year-old son of Rageese for Wednesday’s Grafton Guineas (1600m).

“We gave a bit of thought to the Guineas, but it came up quite a strong race and if he wins on Thursday he is eligible as a PP (Private Purchase) in Hong Kong,” Ritchie said.

“Of course, it’s good money to sell them on and it’s important to place him well and get him in the right race and we thought Ipswich looked the better option for us.

“If he can win that, he will certainly be rated high enough as a PP, we’ve got one more roll of the dice.”

Runner-up in his New Zealand debut at Hastings before embarking for Brisbane, Badgers Nuts improved sharply on an unplaced effort in his Australian debut.

The gelding finished runner-up on the synthetic track at the Sunshine Coast before breaking his maiden at Doomben where he was again second at his most recent appearance behind subsequent winner Enterprise Mia.

“It’s a bit of a shame he’s not a PP already, but with the permits coming out last week we are in a position to make a bit of money and that’s exactly what we’ll be looking to do,” Ritchie said.

Badgers Nuts has a current rating of 62 and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has recently reduced PP eligibility from 68 to 63.

“It’s nothing new for New Zealand trainers and if you can get the sort of money they pay for PPs, well you can’t earn that at home,” Ritchie said.

“I think that’s why we have the edge over our Australian colleagues. We are prepared to sell them because our prizemoney is not as good.

“Hopefully, we can get a quid for everybody and get home and reinvest at the sales next year.”

Badgers Nuts has been partnered in all of his Queensland appearances by expat Kiwi jockey Sam Collett, who takes the reins again.

“Sam knows him and has been riding him well and he is probably better weighted in this one rather than a couple of the others,” Ritchie said.

“He hasn’t let us down since he’s been here and I don’t doubt we will get more of the same on Thursday.

“He’s an on pace horse and Ipswich should suit him and he prefers good ground, but a slow track won’t bother him.”

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