Shane and Cassie Oxlade will chase more Melbourne riches with Queman at Caulfield on Friday.
The Strathalbyn stable has opted for Melbourne over the Listed Durbridge Stakes in Adelaide on Saturday for the talented sprinter who won three races in succession before he was freshened up after running seventh in the Gytrash Final on TAB Finals Day at Morphettville in November.
“He travelled really good,’’ Oxlade said.
“He actually surprised me he can be a bit rattly in the float but he’s arrived here in good shape,’’ he said.
The Oxlades have been enjoying a brilliant run over the border with stable star Sghirripa who has won his past two at Listed and Group 3 level, the latest in the Standish Handicap at Flemington.
Sghirripa defeated Najem Suhail in the Listed Christmas Stakes at his previous outing and Queman will be trying to replicate that in the $175,000 Listed W J Adams over the 1000m journey with Harry Coffey booked to ride.
“Hopefully this bloke can keep things rolling,’’ Oxlade said.
“I wouldn’t expect him to be too far away, he jumped out good last week and is pretty right to go.
“I made the decision this was the way to go, he gets in well down at the weights at the 1000m trip really suits and we come here to find out where he’s at,’’ he said.
Likewise the lure of the $20,000 Summer Sprint Series Bonus wasn’t enough to keep Travis Doudle at home with Struck By on Saturday.
The Christmas Handicap winner is set to take on a hot field in the $350,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Doudle accepted in the Durbridge with stablemate Pegasi, who is also among the final fields in a restricted 1200m at the Valley with Beau Mertens booked to ride both horses.
Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle have also kept their options open with Magic Max on the weekend who is an acceptor in the Durbridge as well as a 1000m race at Moonee Valley on Saturday with in-form Victorian rider Celine Gaudray booked if they tackle the Melbourne assignment.
