Victorian owners delighted with The Big Rig

Victorian owners delighted with The Big Rig

First season sire All American posted his seventh winner on Tuesday when Victorian-owned and Sydney-trained 2YO The Big Rig strode home over 1400 metres to win by two lengths at Kembla Grange.  It was the gelding’s third start at the course, following a debut fourth in May, and a second placing late last month.

He was the third new winner by All American in 11 days, following Zebulon’s success at Flemington on 28 June and Datable’s NSW country win two days later. All American’s first season record also includes Sydney Group 3 winner Bachman and stakes-placed filly Tender.

Trainer David Payne says of The Big Rig, “He’s not a big horse, but he’s quite scopey, he’s done nothing wrong and improved with every start. He’ll have one more run this time in, in about three weeks.”  

He is out of the Stratum mare Catalina Winemixer, a three-quarter sister to New Zealand Derby G1 winner Redoute’s Dancer. She has a yearling colt by Manhattan Rain, a weanling colt by Starcraft and is in foal again to All American.

The Big Rig was sold by Arrowfield at the 2012 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Graham Daley of Hazelwood Stud who purchased this season’s stakes-winning filly Alpha Miss at the same auction, for the same money – just $6,000.

About a year ago Mr Daley onsold the All American colt to Victorian-based Adam Hubbard who works in the mining industry. Adam retained the majority of the horse, and brought his parents David & Linda, girlfriend Milly Saul and cousin Paul Aberline into the ownership. 

After Tuesday’s win, David says, “We’re totally over the moon and I’m rapt. We’re not big punters and we don’t care about winning lots of money, we’re just enjoying the ride.”

That said, the horse has already provided a measurable return to his owners. David, who lives at Allansford near Warrnambool and works with the bridge crew for the Moyne Shire Council, says, “My share of The Big Rig’s winning prizemoney has doubled my fortnight’s pay!”

It was David who suggested that Sydney-based David Payne should train The Big Rig, after following the 3YO career of Australian Derby & Rosehill Guineas winner Criterion. “You need a good trainer to get the most out of a horse and I thought, just maybe our horse has the breeding to run over ground as well.”

The ease of The Big Rig’s win at 1400 metres supports that assessment and David Payne agrees. “He does look like he’ll get more ground, he’s all heart and has a lovely action.”