Heading to Flemington, Space Rider intends to solidify his Australian Guineas aspirations.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained runner features in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Flemington, positioning him perfectly for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) two weeks onward at the venue.

Space Rider wants to earn entry beside Planet Red for the Australian Guineas, emulating the stablemate’s bold second behind Observer during the Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last weekend.

Jockey Ethan Brown, who steered Observer home victorious, sticks with Space Rider this time around, having ridden the three-year-old during his winning return in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, January 24.

“It was a big win first-up. He sat three-wide, no cover,” Kent Jnr said.

“He was there to be challenged but fought all of them off, but it’s going to get harder from here on in, however Ethan Brown sticks.

“The colt of Chris Waller, Sixties, will be hard to beat. It looks to have come back really well, but our guy is a lovely big moving horse that is really going to love Flemington.”

Space Rider has notched all three career successes on his first run back, though Kent Jnr feels Flemington’s spacious track will serve the colt far better this Saturday than the compact circuits encountered in previous second-up starts.

The handler was thrilled by Planet Red’s effort upon resuming at Caulfield last Saturday.

Second in the Caulfield Guineas through the spring—Space Rider 11th that day—Planet Red stormed forward from the tail under Jamie Kah.

“If he had drawn a softer gate, he lands a pair or two closer and it might have been interesting,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s going to thrive off that run and we’re looking forward to the Australian Guineas.”

Fans should review betting markets for the race surrounding the CS Hayes Stakes.

The post Space Rider on Australian Guineas path first appeared on Just Horse Racing.