Scone trainer Rodney Northam can’t wait to chase the big money at Grafton’s $1 million July Racing Carnival.

Northam, 43, is the trainer of Big Money, the talented four-year-old who will be strongly favoured to win the feature sprint of the Grafton carnival, the $150,000 Crowe Horwath Ramornie Handicap on July 9.

A brilliant last start winner of the $175,000 WJ Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm, Big Money will head Northam’s charge at the carnival’s major races.

His good mare Myamira is set for the $50,000 Black Auto South Grafton Cup (1600m) on July 6 and Husswick is heading for the $42,000 Tursa Employment & Training Grafton Guineas (1600m) on July 9 after a win at Tamworth on Saturday.

Northam also expects to have starters in minor races over the five days of the carnival with Robert Thompson to partner the majority of his runners.

“I’m really looking forward to the carnival,” Northam said.

“Hopefully we can win a race or two. We’ve got some good chances.”

Northam said Big Money had pleased him since the Healy Stakes.

“He’s good. Fitness wise he’s 110 per cent,” he said.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s going.”

Big Money, by Choisir out of a previous Ramornie Handicap starter Lyn’s Money, is raced by his breeder Phil Gunter and his wife with the Wallace family.

Big Money is the third foal from Lyn’s Money trained by Northam.

Lyn’s Money, the winner of eight races, tackled the Ramornie in 2005 when she finished 12th to King Rex.

“She missed the start and it was on a wet track which didn’t suit her,” Northam said. “Let’s hope we have better luck with Big Money.”

Lyn’s Money’s first foal Okane is a winner of the Grafton Guineas.

Unfortunately for Gunter, Lyn’s Money died only days after producing Big Money.

The Grafton carnival opens next Thursday with the Grafton Cup Prelude meeting featuring the $20,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup Prelude (2200m) and $20,000 John Carlton Cup.

The winner of the John Carlton Cup is exempt from ballot for the Ramornie and the Prelude winner is exempt from ballot for the flagship event, the $150,000 Grafton District Services Club Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 10.