Bigger prize money and the chance to race on one of Australia’s best racetracks will see Steven Pateman head to Sandown with El Gladiador.

A last start runner-up to Milford in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, El Gladiador is entered in a benchmark 82 race at Morphettville and a benchmark 84 contest at Sandown on Saturday.

Both races are over 1800m with the Adelaide race carrying $55,000 in total prize money while at Sandown there is $150,000 up for grabs.

“He’s got a bit of weight, but Sandown Hillside, it’s one of the best tracks in the country and there’s almost triple the prize money,” Pateman said.

Pateman was surprised with El Gladiador’s starting price of $101 when beaten a half-length by Milford at Caulfield and tipped the horse to a few mates.

Being a licenced jockey, Pateman was not able to take advantage of the $151 that had been offered.

Pateman said he thought the price was unfair, given El Gladiador’s performance in Listed company at Morphettville at his previous start.

“He had to do all the work there after being three wide early, on pace,” Pateman said.

“The 1800 metres seems to be his trip, so I thought he was entitled to be 20-to-one at Caulfield.

“I was sweating before the race wondering if I had done the right thing. Anyway, we definitely made the right choice.”

With predominantly jumpers in his stable, Pateman said El Gladiador may be the best credentialled flat horse he has in work, although he has a soft spot for Lion’s Share, a winner of three races, and who performed creditably at Listed level last campaign.

“We’ve had Lion’s Share since she was a yearling and are pretty fond of her, but this guy, he’s looking like he may be the one and that was possibly his career best performance the other day,” Pateman said.

After Saturday, Pateman may head interstate with El Gladiador to either the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day or the Devonport Cup (1800m) in early January.

“There are heaps of options. He’s pretty exciting for us,” Pateman said.