Kent Jnr gave TTR AusNZ an update on the plans for some of the stable’s established stars, as well as insight into the next generation, including two unnamed 2-year-olds that are showing promising signs at this early stage.
The two juveniles highlighted by Kent Jnr are a colt by Zoustar out of the Red Ransom (USA) mare Fuddle Dee Duddle, and a Snitzel colt out of All Too Soon (All Too Hard).
Fuddle Dee Duddle was a Group 3 winner on the track and is the dam of the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Brereton (Zoustar), who was purchased for $500,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Gallery: Some of the promising juveniles from the Price Kent Racing stable
Meanwhile, All Too Soon, the dam of the Snitzel colt, won four races and is a daughter of the Group 2-winning mare Gallant Tess (Galileo {Ire}). This colt was a $1.1 million purchase by Rosemont Stud and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“It is very early to be tipping 2-year-olds, but those two colts have shown that they’re forward and mature and look like they’ll cope well in the spring. At the moment, they stand out.”
“... those two colts (Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle and Snitzel x All Too Soon) have shown that they’re forward and mature and look like they’ll cope well in the spring. At the moment, they stand out.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Impressive 3-year-olds to step out
The Mick Price and Kent Jnr team have several exciting 3-year-old prospects for the spring, among them is First Settler (Written Tycoon). This progressive colt made a dominant debut at Caulfield and followed it up with a tenacious victory at Flemington.
“He’s a very impressive colt. In his first preparation, he went two-for-two and was then allowed to have a break, so he’s had two weeks in the paddock.
“First Settler is back in the stable now, and we’re planning to run him fresh in the Danehill S., with a view to peaking him in the Coolmore.
“He’s (First Settler) a very impressive colt... we’re planning to run him fresh in the Danehill S., with a view to peaking him in the Coolmore.” - Michael Kent Jnr
“He’s the right style of horse, with a turn of foot, very tractable, and he’s got a very good brain for a big, powerful colt.”
Another promising colt is Reserve Bank (Capitalist), who won impressively on debut at Bendigo in June. The colt was a $410,000 purchase by MG Price Racing and Breeding from Segenhoe Thoroughbreds’ draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
“The other horse is Reserve Bank. He’s had one start and won by 5l at Bendigo. He’s a colt we really fancy. He’s a beautiful horse, bred by Segenhoe Stud, and he’s got the right look, action, and temperament—he’s got gears.
Gallery: Some of the exciting 3-year-old prospects from the Price Kent Racing stable, images courtesy of Racing Photos
“We’re very positive about Reserve Bank, and we’re aiming him up for the spring, hoping he’ll kick off in the Poseidon S., with a big target around the Coolmore as well.”
Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) is another colt who started his career in style, winning on debut at Caulfield.
“The Coolmore horse, Public Attention, is very smart. He won very well on debut at Caulfield. He’s been given time to freshen up, and we’re working backwards from the Caulfield Guineas.
“He’ll kick off in the Mitchell McKenzie S. on September 7, with a plan to head to the Caulfield Guineas Prelude after that. The Caulfield Guineas is shaping up to be one of the races of the spring, with every trainer talking about sending their horse there, whether it’s Storm Boy or Broadsiding, so Public Attention will really have to measure up. But when Mick (Price) gets a good feeling about a nice colt, he doesn’t like to mess around.”
“The Caulfield Guineas is shaping up to be one of the races of the spring, with every trainer talking about sending their horse there, so Public Attention will really have to measure up. But when Mick (Price) gets a good feeling about a nice colt, he doesn’t like to mess around.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Bustling for The Everest
Earlier this year, the stable welcomed the untapped talent Bustling (Frosted {USA}), who had been dominant in his former home state of Western Australia.
A winner of four of his five starts, including the G2 Karrakatta Plate, the G3 Sires’ Produce S., and the Listed Perth S., the son of Frosted (USA) was purchased with the $20 million The Everest in mind.
“Bustling is about 10 days off trialling,” Kent Jnr said. “At this stage, we’re planning to aim him third-up into The Everest, with a view to potentially kicking off in the Run to the Rose.
Bustling | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I think, at this stage, he’ll have an all-Sydney campaign, but we’re pretty keen to avoid Heavy tracks with him, so we’ll keep our options open. He’s a new acquisition, but he’s going very well, and there’s clearly a lot to like about him.
“There’s a nice group of recently turned 3-year-olds that could take the next step to open company. I feel the country is looking for the next wave of young sprinters, and hopefully, Bustling is one of them.
“He’s been very impressive in what he’s done so far, but like all of them, he’ll need to keep improving as the class of races gets stronger. The Everest is not the only race; there’s so much money around for good sprinters. He’s just a very nice horse, and we’re really enjoying training him. Fingers crossed he’s lucky for the new owners.”
“He’s (Bustling) been very impressive in what he’s done so far, but like all of them, he’ll need to keep improving as the class of races gets stronger.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Big goals on the horizon
The Mick Price and Kent Jnr stable is also home to several established older horses with ambitious spring goals. Last season’s G1 Australasian Oaks victress, Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun), has returned to work. “She will trial on August 26; they’ve got a set of official trials at Cranbourne, so she will join Bustling there.
“The plan is to kick her off in the Let’s Elope. She did a very good job to win third-up at 2000 metres, going strong from the front after five weeks between runs. So, she can only improve, and she’s come back super.
“The plan is to kick her (Vibrant Sun) off in the Let’s Elope... she’s come back super.” - Michael Kent Jnr
“We are going to keep her to the mile this preparation, and we’ve got a circle around November 2. There’s the Golden Eagle in Sydney or the Empire Rose on the same day. We may get there via the Toorak, but I think, at this stage, it will be the Let’s Elope.”
Classy mare Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) hasn’t raced since the Golden Rose last year, but Kent Jnr shared that she is pleasing the stable in her return. “She’s just taking a little longer than first anticipated to come back, but we’re happy with her now.
“The goal is to try and win a Group 1 with her. We work very closely with Sheamus Mills and all of the horses he manages, and together we think that a race like the Gilgai S. might suit her.
“The goal is to try and win a Group 1 with her (Charm Stone).” - Michael Kent Jnr
“We’ll work from there, but we’ve just got to see her come back at the trials before we start making any firm plans. But she’s moving very well, and we’re happy with her at this stage.”
Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}), who was last seen winning the G1 Queensland Derby by an impressive 10.4l, is another exciting prospect. It was recently revealed that the ownership turned down substantial offers from Hong Kong.
“Warmonger looks outstanding. He’s really turned from a boy to a man in his Queensland winter program, where he got to have a break up there. He’s come down to Melbourne via our Sydney stable, and he just looks brilliant.
“He’ll also trial on the 26th and is going to the Makybe Diva first-up. Then we’re planning to go to the Turnbull and onto the Caulfield Cup. It’s a nice program with good timing between runs and a gradual progression from a mile to 2000 metres to a mile and a half.
“He’ll (Warmonger) trial on the 26th and is going to the Makybe Diva first-up. Then we’re planning to go to the Turnbull and onto the Caulfield Cup.” - Michael Kent Jnr
“He’s clearly a very exciting horse. He’s a very clean-winded animal that keeps improving. However, running against your age group in the winter is one thing, but now he’s got to measure up against older, more seasoned horses.”
Amenable (Lonhro) is another horse Kent Jnr believes has plenty of improvement to come. “He was second in the All-Aged Stakes in the autumn, so he’s going to have a Sydney-only campaign, with a circle around the Five Diamonds.
“He will probably run in the Five Diamonds Prelude and then into the main event. Amenable has always been a horse that never carries excess condition but keeps improving with time.
“It will be no surprise to see him winning a nice race. Although he has a low-winning strike rate, he’s got the ability, and he does keep improving.”
Gallery: Some of the established older horses from the Price Kent stable with ambitious spring goals
Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) is set for one final run in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend before heading down under.
“She’s running on Sunday at Deauville in France in a Group 2 over 2000 metres, called the Prix Alec Head. We’re learning about her all the time.
“That will likely be her last run before she boards a plane into quarantine, though I’m not yet sure whether she’ll head to Melbourne or Sydney. She’s a very nice Group-class mare.”
