While the lure of $3 million in prizemoney at next Tuesday’s Big Dance at Royal Randwick is hard to ignore, Craig Weeding had little hesitation in choosing a different path for stable stalwart Yam.

The six-year-old Pluck gelding will instead head to Flemington for next Thursday’s $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m), having secured his spot with an excellent second-placed finish at Geelong on October 21.

Taking on a 1500m Benchmark 78 heat, Yam produced a terrific first-up performance, going agonisingly close to victory behind the Dominic Sutton-trained Sulek (Billy Egan).

With Jake Duffy aboard, Yam took up the running and looked the winner for much of the straight, only to be caught in the shadows of the post.

Weeding is confident his nine-time winner will take plenty of improvement from that outing and be better suited stepping up to 1600m second-up.

A consistent performer, Yam earned his Big Dance eligibility with victory in July’s Narrandera Cup, following the same path taken by former stable favourite Prince Of Helena in 2023 and 2024.

However, with Yam’s benchmark placing him in the Big Dance rather than the Little Dance, the challenge at Randwick would have been considerable.

The $3 million feature is set to attract some high-quality opposition, including Black Type performers Gringotts, Formal Display, Magnatear, Churchill’s Choice and Fully Lit, among others.

Instead, Yam will tackle a restricted Benchmark 80 Handicap at Flemington, a race open to eligible Victorian-licensed trainers who recorded fewer than 15 metropolitan winners during the previous completed racing season.

On the strength of his Geelong performance, Yam heads into the $500,000 contest as a genuine winning chance, providing plenty of excitement for his connections and one particularly interested supporter.

Recent Yam promotion winner Daniel Taylor could be in for a Melbourne Cup Carnival experience to remember.

Daniel will fly in from Sydney and enjoy accommodation in Melbourne on Thursday night, along with a day at the races courtesy of the stable.

But there could be an even bigger reward waiting.

As part of the promotion, Daniel will receive 2.5% of any prizemoney Yam earns in the Country Final.

With $275,000 awaiting the winner, that would mean a remarkable payday for Daniel should Yam salute at Flemington.

Not a bad reward for following a country racing favourite, and potentially a Melbourne Cup Carnival experience Daniel will never forget!

Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Racing Photos