Southern trajectory for FNQ bullets

NEXT stop Brisbane.

The two feature winners from Friday’s 2020 Cairns Cup and the unlucky runner-up in the other big money race will now aim their campaigns towards the metropolitan races in Queensland.

For 2020 Newmarket winner The Harrovian, a crack at the big smoke has been a long time coming and, now with his high rating, connections and his stable have little choice but to head into town.

Cairns Cup winner Paniagua is also now destined for a shot at the big boys in Brisbane following his remarkable maiden to feature staying race path over the last few months.

Paniagua trainer Alex Malliff considered going to Brisbane instead of Friday’s cup and now he has the cup in his Mareeba stable, a shot at southern racing will follow.

“He will go to the paddock now, it is not something I like to do with horses when they are going this well and winning,” Malliff said.

“What the horse has done over the last few months, winning six straight from Mackay up to Cairns, he deserves a holiday now.

“That is how we will look at it, because he has earnt it.”

Some of Paniagua’s connections and jockey Scott Sheargold were interested in looking towards Brisbane before the Cairns Cup and will now get the best of both worlds.

FNQ champion and horse for the ages The Harrovian will also now have a quick spell in the paddock before looking towards the southeast during October.

“We will have a look around because he cannot race here anymore in North Queensland,” owner Tom Hedley joked late on Friday. “We will have to head down south and hopefully there is a few nice races for him down there.”

The Harrovian’s rider, Aidan Holt, said he was up to Listed races in Brisbane and around the money at other black type events.