Trainer Mick Price will set his tough three year old Mighty Boss a mighty task if he backs up in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss, above in red and yellow colours, could back up in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Price has pitted his Caulfield Guineas winner up against the older weight for age horses in his two runs heading towards the Australian Guineas and the top Caulfield trainer said that Mighty Boss would line up against the three year olds this week if he recovers in time after finishing a lacklustre eighth behind Brave Smash in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
“He has got to have a good week,” Price told the Herald Sun.
At his previous run Mighty Boss was beaten less than a length when seventh to Hartnell in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 10.
Mighty Boss jumped into the spotlight during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival when he scored a surprise win at $101 in the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in October.
Price will have a very strong hand in the Australian Guineas with last start winners Grunt and Holy Snow scheduled to go around in the Group 1 for the three year olds on the Saturday.
Holy Snow scored at big odds in taking out the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 10 while Grunt was a winner a week later in the Group 3 $150,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 17.
Grunt and Holy Snow worked together over 1200m on Saturday at Caulfield and Price was very happy with their gallop.
“They ran a strong time,’’ Price said.
“It was good track work.
“They’ll be fine and take their place. They ran their last two (furlongs, 400m) in 22.7 and it was good work. I was happy with both of them because it was just a lovely gallop.”
In pre-post betting for the Australian Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au the Darren Weir trained Cliff’s Edge has been installed the $4.60 favourite just ahead of Grunt at $5.50 and D’Argento and Showtime at $8.
Final acceptances for the 2018 Australian Guineas will be taken at 10am on Tuesday February 27.
Early betting for the 2018 Australian Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Cliff’s Edge, $5.50 Grunt, $8 D’Argento, Showtime, $10 Aloisia, $11 Addictive Nature, $13 Levendi, Peaceful State, Villermont, $15 Embellish, Holy Snow, Main Stage, Mighty Boss, Muraaqeb, $21 Bring Me Roses, Siege Of Quebec, $26 Assimilate, Astoria, Mr So And So, $34 more better the rest.
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