SAWYERS Gully hobby trainer Stacie Elliott is excited to think where bargain buy Pete’s Big Jim will take her.
For the moment, she will have to settle for Newcastle Paceway on Saturday night.
However, Elliott is eyeing the group 1 Victorian Breeders Crown in August with the $11,000 purchase after his impressive second in the group 3 Sapling Stakes at Menangle on February 24.
“We went in as a rough chance, I’m only a hobby trainer against all the big guys, and he really went well,” Elliott said. “He tried his heart out. He just keeps stepping up and getting better and better. It’s pretty exciting to think where we could end up with him. His work this week was another half a second on his work leading up to the Sapling.”
Pete’s Big Jim won a heat of the Breeders Plate at Leeton on debut and will chase his second victory in five starts in race nine at Newcastle.
Pete’s Big Jim was one of four buys by Canberra’s Peter Kohlsdorf from ready to run sales put in Elliott’s care. However, the gelding was not paid up for this month’s Bathurst Gold Crown or the NSW Breeders Challenge.
As a fallback, Elliott hoped to race in the Rod Fitzpatrick group 3 race for two-year-olds at Menangle last week but the event received only four nominations.
Now Elliott is looking at a run or two locally before a spell and campaign aimed at the Victorian series.
Also on Saturday night, a $2500 cheque from Newcastle Harness Racing Club and Newcastle and Maitland Mini Trots will be added to the Team Teal fundraising campaign for the Women’s Cancer Foundation.
Drivers across Australia have worn teal coloured pants to raise awareness and each winner they have scored has earned a $200 donation harness racing bodies.
