The Gold Coast Bulletin

Ayrton now the hunter

- TRENTON AKERS

ONE-TIME boom horse Ayrton arrived in Queensland 12 months ago with a target on his back, but the roles have been reversed this time around as he attempts to take down superstar Zaaki at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Getting beat “fairly and squarely” by the giant-killing Apache Chase last year was the catalyst for trainer Mick Price to transform Ayrton into a middle distance machine, putting him on a collision course with one of the country’s best.

After being set for a Stradbroke Handicap last year as a three-yearold, Ayrton returns to Queensland chasing the middle distance riches on offer instead.

Arriving in Queensland last year with the world at his feet and a shortprice­d Stradbroke favourite, despite not having made the field, Ayrton was toppled as a long-odds on chance in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic, leaving Price to hit reset on his campaign.

“When Apache Chase beat us fair and square, he couldn’t win the Stradbroke so we went to the mile (Group 3 Gunsynd Classic) and he was strong, really strong,” Price said.

“I have always thought that (middle distance) of him but it suited his training and his constituti­on to keep him sprinting, we were originally

Stradbroke bound.”

Price set Ayrton for a huge spring last year before a suspected spider bite almost cost him his life.

“We were going to have a prep to lead us into the Australian Cup or whatever race we were going to and he got a bad (blood) read so we spent the next five or six months on that,” he said.

With seven months off racing, he returned in winning fashion at Caulfield last month.

Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) against hot favourite Zaaki presents a far greater challenge and Price says the race is simply a stepping stone to greater winter riches.

“It (can we beat Zaaki) is the burning question really isn’t it?” Price said. “He is fitter, more conditione­d and more seasoned than us so I would not be overly optimistic that we can beat him.

“The plan is the Doomben Cup and then The Q22 … I am going to maintain those three races because we have always wanted to try him between a mile and 2000m.”

With visiting horse accommodat­ion critically low in Brisbane for the carnival, Price has opted to campaign Ayrton out of the Gold Coast, where he is expected to get his first look at the course proper on Tuesday.

 ?? ?? Ayrton (NZ) wins the Neds Victoria Handicap. Picture: Getty Images
Ayrton (NZ) wins the Neds Victoria Handicap. Picture: Getty Images

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