Queensland middle distance star Pocket Money is chasing a bundle of ‘loose change’ in the $121,500 Group 1 Sportsbet Hume Cup final (600m) – Race 5, 8.06pm – at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The Hume Cup – part of a G1 triple-header highlighting opening night of the $4.1m Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival – carries a $75,000 first prize.
Trained by Keith “Ned” Snow, Pocket Money (a son of dual G1 winner Out Of Range) all but inscribed his name on the Hume Cup silverware with a devastating heat win on Melbourne Cup Eve.
“He can handle any box… But if he can come out and find the rails early, that’s the key to his chances.”
He powered away for a stunning six-length victory in 33.98sec – around one length off former superstar Dyna Double One’s 33.91sec track record, set on February 6, 2016.
Pocket Money’s winning time was easily the fastest time of six heats. In fact, he was around five lengths quicker than the next best heat winners – Dookie Devil (34.25sec) and Aston Velvet (34.26sec).
It was his 13th win (with two seconds and five thirds) from 29 starts, with $67,185 in prizemoney. Pocket Money – bred and owned by Snow’s daughter, Tanya – also holds Grafton’s 660m track record (38.05sec).
However, Snow was jolted back to reality when Pocket Money drew Box 8 in the final. He’s a noted ‘rails’ specialist, being four from four out of Box 1 and four from six exiting Box 2.
Subsequently, in what has now developed into an even betting affair, Pocket Money is $4.20 favourite on sportsbet.com.au, followed by Triumph (Box 3), Jarick Bale (Box 4) and Aston Velvet (Box 5) – all at $4.80 – and Dookie Devil at $5.
“He can handle any box… But if he can come out and find the rails early, that’s the key to his chances,” Snow said. “His box manners have been much better since having a couple of stints with Dave Irwin.”
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“In what now seems a masterstroke, Snow sent Pocket Money to Irwin, a legendary NSW trainer, not only to improve his box behaviour but also due to a lack of suitable races in Brisbane. Irwin was also prepared to race him at Wentworth Park in Sydney.
During these two NSW campaigns, Pocket Money also raced over the distance trip. However, Snow believes he’s better suited over a middle distance.
“He’s adaptable, but his litter brother Oh Oh Range is a better stayer,” Snow said.
It seems there’s ‘no business like Snow business’ as Oh Oh Range (Box 1) – also trained by Snow – will contest the G1 Sportsbet Topgun Stayers, an invitational distance race (730m) worth $75,000 to the winner, on Saturday night.
Can Pocket Money provide Queensland with its first Hume Cup since its inception in 2000?
Let it ‘Snow’…
WATCH: Brilliant ‘banana-bender’ POCKET MONEY (B2) slips away for a near-record 33.98sec Hume Cup heat win on Melbourne Cup Eve.
