Corner no concern for Big Me

Big Me will break new ground at Moonee Valley when he races around a corner for the first time.

The Nick Ryan-trained six-year-old has raced just three times, all of which have been on a straight track, twice in Hong Kong and once at Flemington.

Big Me has an imposing record, winning on debut in Hong Kong before placing third in each of his two subsequent starts.

Ryan took Big Me to Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning for a look at the track and is not concerned with the galloper racing around a bend for the first time when he lines up in the Earthcare Handicap (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Prior to heading to Hong Kong, Big Me won two Cranbourne 800m jump-outs and a trial over 850m at Tatura, all three around a bend, and prior to making his debut in Hong Kong he was extensively trialled, both on the straight at Shatin and around the bend at Happy Valley.

Big Me suffered a tendon injury to his off foreleg in Hong Kong which required a long recuperation and his repatriation back to Australia.

Ryan was over the moon with Big Me’s Australian debut and gave the sprinter an extra week to get over a tough first-up assignment.

“I was rapt with him, first-up after 650 days, a heavy 8, and last race of the day,” Ryan said.

“It was a tough race, but he’s humming now and that’s why we’ve gone three weeks and stay at 1000 metres.

“He’s really come on in the coat since that run and his trackwork has been super.

“It’s his first race this way of going, but in his work and his jump-outs, there have been no problems.

“He’s a really nice horse, a 68 rater at the moment, so we’ll have some fun and try and race him through his grades.”

Ryan also has Port Albert engaged in the same race, but said he was likely to wait and run in a benchmark 74 race over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday week.