Golden Path is back in Melbourne for a new spring preparation under the guidance of trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, after spending the better part of the past year racing in Sydney. His first-up assignment will be the Sportsbet Blackbook Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with a long-term goal of tackling the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.
Before those bigger plans can be considered, the six-year-old gelding will need to show he is up to the challenge. Kent Jnr noted that Golden Path thrived when relocated to Sydney last year, where he enjoyed a heavy track win at Rosehill during the winter before a limited spring and three-run autumn campaign.
“He thrived up in Sydney and he really thrived when he got up to 2000 metres,” Kent Jnr said.
“The programming said we had to kick him off in some Group 1’s last preparation, but he was three or four lengths off the pace every time.
“We could have taken him to the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m, on Saturday) as a kick-off, but we didn’t think he would be a genuine competitive chance, so we’ve opted to get him a bit fitter, and go to the mile with the claim.
“With 59 kilos, he’s quite forward, and I think he can run a bit of a race.”
However, barrier 13 has tempered their optimism. “The barrier disheartens us a little bit,” Kent Jnr admitted. “We’ll ride him to try and hit the line. I don’t think he’s a horse you want to be cooking him first-up from the wide gate with the weight and then upset the campaign.”
Plans are for Golden Path to progress to the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield second-up before deciding on his spring pathway. With five wins from 17 starts, Kent Jnr believes now could be the right time to test him over longer distances.
“He’s never been to 2400 (metres), but I don’t see why we shouldn’t give it a go,” Kent Jnr said. “If he gets it, he’s got the class to be competitive, maybe even The Metropolitan (at Randwick) could suit, and we know he doesn’t mind a drop of rain and loves getting his toe in.”
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