Splurge Begins Queensland Campaign

The Informant reports:

Following their impressive Rough Habit Plate victory with Shocking Luck last weekend, Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards are hoping to strike again when Splurge kicks off his Queensland winter campaign in the Gr. 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday.

Autridge, Richards and jockey Opie Bosson had already tasted big-race Australian success this season with Te Akau's star three-year-old Gingernuts in the Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas, and Shocking Luck followed suit last Saturday in a dominant performance that boded very well for his Queensland Derby prospects.

Now it's Splurge's turn. By Savabeel out of the Group One-placed mare Splashing Out, Splurge is a half-sister to the Group Two winner Shopaholic and a close relative to Sacred Falls. He was bought by David Ellis for $500,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2014.

Splurge has had 11 starts in New Zealand for seven wins and two placings, earning just over $150,000 in prize-money. He has won five of his six starts this season, including an impressive late burst to beat Volks Lightning and Rangipo in the Gr. 3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie in early March.

His most recent start was a dominant 1200-metre open handicap win at Te Rapa on April 29, beating Passing Shot and Underthemoonlight. He was on a flight to Brisbane five days later.

Splurge will make his Australian debut over 1350 metres tomorrow in a race worth A$125,000. He will carry 56.5 kilograms and will jump from gate nine in a 16-horse field.

“We're pretty happy with his weight and draw,” Richards said this week. “He'll probably have to go back from gate nine, but he's a versatile horse and Opie knows him well. He should be able to adapt to however the race unfolds.

“We're very happy with him heading into the race. He's a good doing horse, he just travels, eats and sleeps and nothing bothers him. His work has been very good since he's travelled over.”

Connections will assess how Splurge performs tomorrow before making any future plans.