Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss is on track for a return to the winner’s stall after producing an eye catching gallop in the lead up to Saturday’s Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at The Valley.
Mighty Boss, above in yellow and red colours, has worked strongly in the lead up to the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Mighty Boss hasn’t found the winner’s stall since causing an upset win at $101 in the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival but trainer Mick Price is expecting the four year old to be right in the finish this weekend.
Price took Mighty Boss to The Valley on Tuesday morning and the top trainer headed back to his Caulfield stables content that the four year old stallion was on the comeback trail after finishing eleventh first up in the Group 2 $200,000 Sir John Monash P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18.
“Mighty Boss is probably just getting as fit as you’ll see him,” Price told racing.com.
“Michael Walker was very happy with him, I was happy with him, he pulled up really good in the wind, had a solid 1200-metre gallop.”
“I know he’s only had one run but he’s a lot fitter, done a lot more work with him, he’s a bit gross, he can be a bit lazy in races but he worked good here (at The Valley).”
Mighty Boss galloped with stablemate Hiyaam but Price doesn’t expect the Vinery Stud Stakes winner to be at her peak until she gets over more ground and the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes will be a stepping stone for the mare for her assignments later in her Spring Carnival preparation.
“Hiyaam chased him up, Hiyaam is sort of 2000-metre and 2400-metre, we know that from her form, she’s beaten Unforgotten once and Unforgotten beat her once so I’m hoping that form holds up for my mare.
“I think she’ll run well, she’s going to be off the bridle Saturday but she was strong through the line in the 1500m and I’m sure she’ll be strong into the race late.
“Out of the two of them, Mighty Boss has probably improved the most and he’ll start to show up now.”
“We’re going to go past 1600m with him so he might end up in races like the Underwood and those sort of races, but there’s also a Toorak Handicap there for him I guess, but I’m just keen to try him over 2000 metres and maybe beyond this prep.”
Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au disagree with Price’s assessment and have Hiyaam marked at $13 for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes while Mighty Boss is listed as a $17 chance.
Early betting for the 2018 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Night’s Watch, $6 Hartnell, $6.50 Ambitious, $10 Bonneval, $13 Hiyaam,, $15 Admire Robson, Spanish Reef, $17 Exemplar, Homesman, Mighty Boss, Odeon, Orderofthegarter, Sir Isaac Newton, Sopressa, $21 Rhythm To Spare, The Taj Mahal, $26 Magic Consul, Rising Red, $34 Seaburge, $41 Boom Time, $51 Divine Unicorn, $101 Red Cardinal.
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