Caulfield was a happy hunting ground for Mick Price on Saturday, with bigger targets ahead in the spring.
Group 1 plans discussed for a pair of Mick Price winners from Saturday
Group 1 plans discussed for a pair of Mick Price winners from Saturday
News Insights
- Four-year-old makes an impressive return
- The Epsom and the Toorak are on the agenda
- Charm could be a little bit special
- Coolmore Stud Stakes the target
Two winners on the Caulfield card on Saturday for Mick Price have tongues wagging on betting sites with the possibility of bigger targets for the spring. The pair were two-thirds of a treble on the card for jockey Damian Lane.
While the first Group 1 of the season at Randwick on Saturday got most of the attention, the eyes that were on Caulfield saw a pair of smart winners representing the stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
As we head into one of the best parts of the racing year, the spring carnival, we look at these winners and where they might be seen next in Group 1 company as they take a step up in class compared to the fields they faced at the weekend. There are more challenging targets ahead, but they both won with a little in hand and look capable of holding their own.
Mick Price
It is more than 30 years since Price took out a training license. More than 2750 winners (44 of which have come in Group 1s) later, Price is more than capable when he gets the right ones through his hands.
There are five horses in the stable at present who are rated 100+, and while the pair of Caulfield winners have a little way to go to obtain a rating as lofty as that, they both have the potential to rate much higher than at present and could add to Price's number of winners at the top level.
Amenable
The Thoroughbred Club Handicap was the four-year-old's first target of the new season, and he didn't disappoint. With a wide barrier of over 1400m, he covered more ground early than ideal but got into the perfect rhythm back in the field. Picking up well down the outside, he didn't do much once in front and won with a little more in hand than the official margin suggests.
Said to have improved both mentally and physically since last season, it was not like his three-year-old campaign was a poor one. Only beaten a length in the Caulfield Guineas last October and 1.4 lengths in the Australian Guineas in March, he has already shown ability in Group 1 class.
If connections are correct and he has improved ahead of the spring, then the Epsom Handicap and the Toorak will be legitimate targets for him in the coming weeks. With that solid form in Group 1 company already in the book, he has a great base to build on.
Charm Stone
Damian Lane got off the three-year-old filly on Saturday with a huge smile, declaring on tv that "I think she's a little bit special". She certainly looked that way when she won the Group 3 Quezette Stakes.
Settling well off the speed over 1100m, she challenged the widest of all into the straight, closing in ominously before digging deep to repel the runner-up. The pair pulled nicely clear of the third, clocking a smart time in the process.
She has only had four races in her life, looking professional when asked to go and win the contest. There should be plenty more to come from her, so it was not a shock for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes to get a mention afterwards as a potential target for her.
Mick Price has always been a trainer who gets the best out of his horses. A yard that has not always had the very top talent could this spring be one to remember for the stable? Most long-term racing fans will hope so.
More Horse Racing Articles
Melbourne Cup 2023 - Predictions, Odds & Tips
The 2023 Melbourne Cup will take place on Tuesday, 7th November at 3:00pm. We will provide Melbourne Cup betting odds & advice in this guide.
Best Multibet Tips of the Weekend | November 9th
The Group 1 action is at Flemington on Saturday but there are some interesting favourites to be getting stuck into at Doomben for a multibet.
Saturday Racing Tips - Flemington 09/11/24
Just five days after the Melbourne Cup, there’s a triple-header of Group 1s at Flemington on Saturday with some excellent racing on the card.
John Symons and Sheila Laxton train the Melbourne Cup winner
35 years after taking out a licence to train racehorses, John Symons won the biggest Group 1 of his career, the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
More Horse Racing Betting Tips
Melbourne Cup 2023 - Predictions, Odds & Tips
The 2023 Melbourne Cup will take place on Tuesday, 7th November at 3:00pm. We will provide Melbourne Cup betting odds & advice in this guide.
Best Multibet Tips of the Weekend | November 9th
The Group 1 action is at Flemington on Saturday but there are some interesting favourites to be getting stuck into at Doomben for a multibet.
Saturday Racing Tips - Flemington 09/11/24
Just five days after the Melbourne Cup, there’s a triple-header of Group 1s at Flemington on Saturday with some excellent racing on the card.
John Symons and Sheila Laxton train the Melbourne Cup winner
35 years after taking out a licence to train racehorses, John Symons won the biggest Group 1 of his career, the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Via Sistina produces one of the greatest-ever Cox Plate performances
Yulong Investments has spent a huge amount of money to build up their broodmare collection. Via Sistina is an invaluable part of that.
It is an outstanding card at The Valley on Saturday
As the end of October draws near, we head to The Valley on Saturday afternoon for the latest renewals of the Cox Plate and the McEwan Stakes.
Best Multibet Tips of the Weekend | October 26th
The quality on the Doomben card is not of a strong level but there are still some interesting bets on the card which we’ve trimmed to three.
Saturday Racing Tips - The Valley 26/10/24
Nine runners will head to the 2040m start this week to contest the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. One of them will join the greats when they salute.