Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Guest House flying the flag in the Blue Diamond
It was meant to be a two-pronged assault from Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr in Saturday’s $2 million G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse.
The undefeated Big Sky (Bivouac) and the talented Guest House (Home Affairs) gave the stable a dominant hand on paper, but Friday’s scratching of the long-time favourite has left Guest House to carry the banner alone.
Price has publicly suggested Guest House may even be the better horse of the pair - and from a low draw in a high-pressure juvenile contest, he sees a scenario where things could fall into place.
Guest House as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"Guest House, if he flies the gate and finds the fence, or sits there, you wouldn't want to kick up inside him would you? You should not want to kick up inside him." Price told racenet.com.
"If he gets everything right that horse, big booming stride on him, if he went forward, found the fence and rolled along at his own speed, I don't think that would hurt him.
"If he (Guest House) went forward, found the fence and rolled along at his own speed, I don't think that would hurt him." - Mick Price
"Any jockey, any time in any race has got to get their sectionals right, don't they, and if they're running the right sectionals to finish I think he'll be in the money. If he (Guest House) gets it right he'd be a great winning chance but I hope he doesn't explode into the bridle."
His effort for second in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) behind Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) was better than it looked on paper. He missed the kick, over-raced, sat deep without cover and still stuck on.
Guest House behind Closer To Free in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"In all my time watching races, if something duffs the start, locks onto the bridle, pulls double, sits there deep, exposed and working, they run second last," Price said.
"He ran second, I couldn't believe he ran second. I thought that's indicative of his capacity at only his second start, so I thought it was a huge effort.
"If he gets it right, if he bounces good and gets his sectionals right, and he's allowed to make his best sectional the last 300 metres, then he's going to be hard to beat."
It’s no two-horse affair though, Unit Five (Supido) chases history attempting to become the first horse to do the Magic Millions 2YO Classic–Blue Diamond double, Closer To Free brings upside off an impressive debut win, and Alibaba (Alabama Express) looms as the knockout hope if Craig Newitt can offset a wide draw.
Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Treasurethe Moment ready to roll in the Futurity
The G1 Futurity Stakes shapes as a perfect launch pad for the high-class mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express).
Her fresh win in the G1 Memsie Stakes last preparation was arguably her peak performance when winning by two-and-a-half lengths and trainer Matt Laurie has followed a familiar blueprint into Saturday.
Two sound trials and jump-outs and a solid gallop during the week have him confident she’s right where she needs to be.
Treasurethe Moment winning the G1 Memsie Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I was really pleased, she just sat off a workmate, worked over 1000 metres and quickened up last 400 metres.” Laurie commented to racing.com
“But you could see she is very much on the ball and wanting to get on the job, so she’s in a good space and ready to go this weekend.
“You could see she (Treasurethe Moment) is very much on the ball and wanting to get on the job, so she’s in a good space and ready to go this weekend.” - Matt Laurie
“She’s had a very similar preparation to what she has had in her previous ones, I think she is a bit older, a bit stronger, she’s very much aware of whats going on every time we put her on a truck these days.”
“This gallop caps her off nicely and I look forward to kicking her off and seeing where the preparation leads.”
It’s a compact but quality field. Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) poses a serious threat, while the New Zealand-bred pair of Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) both look chances.
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Tropicus chasing his stallion moment in the Oakleigh Plate
The G1 Oakleigh Plate could give Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) his defining moment on Saturday at Caulfield.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 4-year-old entire, owned by Kia Ora Stud, already boasts wins in the G3 Zeditave Stakes and the G3 Heath Stakes at Caulfield, along with three Group placings. But it’s a Group 1 that would truly elevate his commercial appeal.
Tropicus | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
By Too Darn Hot (GB) and out of the four-time winner and Group 3-placed Exceed And Excel mare Extensible, herself a full-sister to Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes winner Cathay Lady (Exceed And Excel), he brings a solid pedigree.
“He puts himself up there, he doesn't require luck, he is bombproof, he is honest, his record at 1100 metres at Caulfield is there for everyone to see.” Co-trainer Sam Freedman commented to racing.com
“He (Tropicus) puts himself up there, he doesn't require luck, he is bombproof, he is honest, his record at 1100 metres at Caulfield is there for everyone to see.” - Sam Freedman
“He’s also raced at a better level than what he is facing on Saturday, if Caulfield plays a little bit leaderish or it’s difficult to make ground then I would have Tropicus on top.”
It’s an even renewal and a big open field. Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) and Persian Spirit (Cable Bay {Ire}) bring depth, while the Charlotte Littlefield-trained She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win) could be the knockout hope.
Waller’s Silver Slipper strike force
A trainer that has a dominant hand in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday is Chris Waller.
Hidrix (Extreme Choice) and Confederation (Wootton Bassett {GB}) ran the quinella in the G3 Canonbury Stakes on January 31, and could easily repeat the dose as they progress their way towards the G1 Golden Slipper which is held on the same course and over the same distance.
Hidrix | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
When speaking about Hidrix, Waller commented
“He’s a good horse and has gone the right way since his win. He’s an unassuming horse. He has a great attitude and everything you ask him to do, he does. That will not only see him race well (on Saturday) but also the Golden Slipper.”
On Confederation, he offered a subtle distinction.
“He (Confederation) is as good as Hidrix, but he needs to do things right. That’s the only difference. Hopefully, there is good speed. He can turn the tables.”
Confederation as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It isn't just about Waller's runners however, the underrated Savage Look (Wild Ruler) appeals as the blowout, while Eviction Notice (Stay Inside) must be respected after finishing third behind the Waller stablemates in the Canonbury.
No Tempted for Napoloenic to chase in the Hobartville
The absence of the outstanding filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) leaves the G2 Hobartville Stakes looking a much more enticing prospect for the talented Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {GB}), something he and connections are likely to enjoy.
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained colt ran second to Tempted in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, a performance that would have won most editions. He meets race-rival Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) again, who finished a further length and a half away in the Eskimo Prince.
Napoleonic | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I don’t think he did a lot wrong in defeat,’’ Charlton said.
“We thought it was a really good effort against a very good sprinter and thought it was a really encouraging first-up run.
“It looks a really good at Hobartville but he’s a very versatile horse, he can jump well he can relax and drop in.
“This could be defined as a fork in the road in terms of his next run. There’s a Randwick Guineas at a mile, we’re still learning whether that’s going to be his trip, or other options back in trip through the carnival.”
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The race is competitive with Ninja (Farnan) reappearing on the back of his controversial Magic Millions 3YO Guineas defeat, Shangri La Boy (Pierro) has trialled sharply, and Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) - a G1 Caulfield Guineas winner has to be respected.
