Price to go for Guineas
TRAINER Mick Price plans to unleash a three-pronged attack on the $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday after Mighty Boss bounced back from a torrid Futurity Stakes run last week.
Price expects the Caulfield Guineas winner to start in the Group 1 mile alongside stablemates Grunt and Holy Snow after the chestnut showed no ill effects from his eighth behind Brave Smash.
But if Mighty Boss displays any adverse signs between now and Saturday, Price will wait for the Randwick Guineas on March 10.
“He’s tough and I’ll accept for Saturday and think he’ll definitely take his place, but if not he’ll run in the Randwick Guineas,” Price said.
“It hasn’t all gone to plan in his first two runs but he always get better later in his prep.”
Price conceded the prospect of locking horns with crack Godolphin colt Kementari was definitely a factor in keeping Mighty Boss in Victoria.
“He’s (Kementari) a deserved favourite for the Randwick Guineas, he’s definitely on my mind when thinking about sending up my colts,” Price said, referring to Kementari.
Price has plenty of faith in all his runners, but particularly Grunt, a $5.50 second favourite with Ladbrokes behind Cliff’s Edge ($4.60).
“What he did to win in Adelaide shows he’ll be hard to beat on Saturday and is right up there for me,” Price said.
“He’s also showed he likes Flemington (winning the G3 CS Hayes Stakes last start) and he will relish the 1600m and is even looking for further.”
Aloisia and Bring Me Roses are the only fillies in an entry of 30 but both are guaranteed starts.
Aloisia’s trainer Aaron Purcell said the spring star, who has drifted from Guineas favouritism to $8, was back on song after an excellent first-up run in The Vanity (1400m) at headquarters two weeks ago.
The OTI racing-owned filly has only once previously taken on the colts and geldings, destroying her rivals in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase.
Purcell will also start Sandown Guineas winner Villermont in what shapes as a blockbuster field of quality three-year-olds.