Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s stable might have bypassed the easier option for two of their resuming gallopers at Caulfield.
The Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, a benchmark 100 race, could have been the suitable starting point for Sabaj and Planet Red.
Last year, Sepals won this race before proceeding to claim the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield three weeks later.
With 15 runners in the Evergreen, Price and Kent Jnr decided the smaller field of 12 in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday would be the launching pad for the pair, though Price suggested victory would be a surprise.
The Memsie Stakes field is comprised of 12 runners, headlined by Group 1 winners Mr Brightside, Jimmysstar, Tom Kitten, Buckaroo, Birdman, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht, and Treasurethe Moment. Also present is Group 1 hopeful Angel Capital and the highly-regarded Perth horse Cosmic Crusader, who is undefeated in two starts for new trainer Andrea Leek.
Sabaj and Planet Red are both resuming, and Price confirmed Jamie Melham and Blake Shinn were booked for the rides, stating the intention was always to start them in the Memsie.
Shinn partnered Planet Red in a recent Pakenham jump-out on August 11 behind Sheza Alibi, while Sabaj finished just ahead of his stablemate in the same trial.
“They’re both going well but I don’t expect either of them to win, I suppose,” Price commented.
“Sabaj is a Cranbourne Cup winner who has a nice race in him while Planet Red is a three-year-old going into his four-year-old year.
“I think they’ll both be suited in mile handicaps, like the Toorak and those sorts of races.”
Based at Rosehill in Sydney, Price mentioned that both Sabaj and Planet Red might eventually head north for the latter part of the spring racing season.
“The five-year-old Sabaj, might be headed to the Five Diamonds, the 1800 (metres) might be good and I think the Golden Eagle is a very hard race to win now because it’s 1500 (metres),” Price said.
“That’s a fast mile race, but he’ll be there to win the right races.”
Price and Kent Jnr are familiar with winning the $10 million Golden Eagle, having taken the race in 2021 with I’m Thunderstruck.
The Golden Eagle is scheduled for October 31, with the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill taking place the following week.
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