Wiggum chases another healthy prize
With three-year-old sprinter Wiggum in form, Adelaide trainer Travis Doudle does not mind travelling over to Melbourne to race the gelding.
Wiggum is on his third trip to Victoria and will be having only his sixth start when he lines up in the Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Victorious at Ballarat on debut, Wiggum provided Damien Oliver with one of his three wins during the Melbourne Cup Carnival when successful at Flemington on November 7.
With Oliver suspended before heading to Perth, Damian Lane has the ride on Saturday.
Wiggum is VOBIS Silver qualified, and victory on Saturday would prove a $105,000 bonanza for connections which Doudle said was like winning a $200,000 back in Adelaide.
"He pockets $105,000 for a three-year-old race with the bonuses," Doudle said.
"It's like winning a $200,000 race, so while he's running well, we'll keep coming over."
Doudle travelled Wiggum over from his Adelaide base on Thursday to get the sprinter settled in before he runs on Saturday.
"I like to come over a day early and give them a bit extra time to get over the trip," Doudle said.
"He's a pretty doer and a pretty relaxed customer, so hopefully that will help him go a long way."
In his five starts to date, Wiggum has raced beyond 1100m just once, finishing second over 1250m on the Parks track at Morphettville in June.
Doudle said there was genuine excuses for Wiggum that day.
"Nothing really made much ground, and the Parks track at Morphettville can be a bit leaderish and hot on the rail," Doudle said.
"He came from back in the field and went around them and was one of the only horses that day to make ground to run second.
"The winner got up on the rail and beat us fair and square, but he did cover a bit more ground."
Win, lose or draw, Doudle said Wiggum would go for a break after Saturday.
"He'll more than likely go to the paddock until Christmas and have a little freshen up and we'll get him ready for the autumn," Doudle said.
"I'll get him ready for the autumn here (Melbourne), but if he doesn't measure up, there's plenty of races back home."
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