AYRTON PARKED AT GOLDEN CROSSROAD

AYRTON, the deposed favourite for the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m), is parked at a spring crossroad with trainer Mick Price keen to see the untapped star get over further ground.

The Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 2 in Sydney remains on the table despite Ayrton going under as a $1.45 favourite last Saturday at Flemington in a 1400m Listed race.

Ayrton’s only other defeat in seven starts came second-up at 1400m in Queensland in May before the son of Iffraaj thundered to victory two weeks later in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic.

Mo’unga’s strong second in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, coupled with syndicated four-year-old gelding Ayrton’s loss saw the pair trade places in TAB’s allin Golden Eagle market.

“I still think he needs further,” master horseman Price, who co-trains with Michael Kent Jr, said. “He’s not a 1400m horse as such, he’s all right in lesser grade but I’ve just got 2000m in the back of my head with him.”