Planet Red and Sabaj, two geldings under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, are embarking on their spring campaigns with differing ultimate objectives, though they may well compete against each other during this period.
Both horses participated in their initial jumpouts of the season at Cranbourne on Monday morning.
Sabaj finished third, less than two lengths behind Proved, without being fully extended in its first outing. Planet Red came in second later in the morning, approximately 2-1/2 lengths behind Spirit Of Wealth.
This represented the most serious work undertaken by either horse this campaign. Both are expected to make their seasonal reappearance in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29, followed by the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), prior to their main spring objectives in Sydney.
“I think they’re running in the hot Memsie,” Price said.
“With their rating, the calendar pushes you in that way. I think they’ll both kick off there because of their rating and the timing of it.
“They’re both nice horses and they’re both sort of Toorak Handicap horses.”
Should all proceed smoothly until the Toorak Handicap, scheduled for Caulfield on October 10, Planet Red will then be aimed at the Golden Eagle (1500m). This year, the event will be contested at Group 1 level for the first time.
Price and Kent secured victory in the 2021 Golden Eagle with I’m Thunderstruck, who also triumphed in the Toorak Handicap. Price stated that the $10 million event is a compelling target for the gelding, who had previously finished as the runner-up in both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Australian Guineas earlier this season.
“His run in the Caulfield Guineas was very good, drawn a bad gate, and his run in the Australian Guineas was very good, drawn a bad gate, so we were forced to ride cold in both those races,” he remarked about the son of Admire Mars.
“The Golden Eagle is a fast 1500. You need a horse with a pretty good turn of foot and, for $10m and four-year-olds, I think he’ll be in it.”
Sabaj’s target in Sydney is the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m), a race exclusively for five-year-old horses, which will be held on November 7.
The son of Manhattan Rain has won five of his 12 starts. Despite not winning in his three starts this year, he did finish fourth in both the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) and Australian Cup (2000m).
“He’s a nice horse and I think anywhere between a mile and 2000 (is suitable),” Price said.
“I reckon the Five Diamonds for him, because he will be a five-year-old.
“It’s 1800, that’d be beautiful. That’ll be a nice race for him.”
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