Sydney-bound trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr are aiming to replicate last year’s success in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), this time with emerging prospect Sabaj.
The Manhattan Rain gelding made the perfect start to his Victorian campaign when surging clear to take out a benchmark 84 on Champions Day by nearly two lengths. Prior to his relocation, he had already proven himself at stakes level in Adelaide, finishing Group 2 placed behind Reserve Bank for Richard & Chantelle Jolly.
Kent Jnr sees parallels with Globe, whose Cranbourne Cup win last year set the platform for a Group 1 triumph in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) during this year’s spring carnival.
“The Cranbourne Cup is the logical race for him,” Kent Jnr said.
“A mile, on his doorstep. The timing’s good, our only concern would be the tight track. He’s a get back, run on, big striding horse.”
The stable withdrew Sabaj from a Cup Day event at Flemington before electing to press ahead with a Champions Day run, a decision Kent Jnr believes paid off in multiple ways.
“I’m still glad we scratched him on the Tuesday,” Kent Jnr said.
“It ended up being a soft five only, but I don’t think we would have won.”
“We had an inside draw, and by race ten on Cup Day, they were all coming in the middle and the way Persian Spirit won down the outside, we would have been in traffic, whereas the wide draw on Saturday was the perfect set up.”
“We didn’t know if he’d get a wet track, but we took the positive view that we’re here to learn and find out.”
A possible tilt at the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) was quickly dismissed due to Sabaj’s position deep in the order of entry, but the stable remains confident he can reach high levels.
“He’s very progressive, he’ll get his chance.”
Sabaj is one of 27 horses nominated for the Cranbourne Cup, with four Ciaron Maher-trained runners—including recent Group 2 winner Warnie—leading the ratings.
For punters eyeing off the Cranbourne Cup, Australia’s top online betting sites offer competitive markets and race-day specials.
