The money is certainly following the spruik for Mick Price’s NZ import Ardrossan in Saturday’s Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, but his trainer is confident he can live up to expectation.
The Redoute’s Choice colt was a Stakes winner at just his second start in New Zealand, and now his third start will see him tackle the likes of Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Merchant Navy, triple Group 1 winner Flamberge and William Reid Stakes winner Silent Sedition at Caulfield on Saturday.
While Price conceded he is raising the bar high with his 71-rater, he is confident he won’t be disappointed post-race, with the Oakleigh Plate in mind with him.
“He’s an exciting horse, I reckon,” Price said at trackwork on Tuesday, with Ardrossan a second-favourite in all-in markets.
“He’s trialled well. He worked with Silent Sedition on the course proper last Saturday morning.
“They ran it in 21.5s last 400m on the fence, which is what they do according to the oracle, [Caulfield trainer] Colin Little, the clocker.
“But he works like a good colt, and trials like a good colt, and is supposed to be a good colt, so I think you’ll find he flies the gates, puts himself up there and we’ll see what he does under pressure.
“I’d love to see him win, I think you’ll see a really good effort from him, and hopefully he can run first three if not win, and then go to the Oakleigh Plate.
“He’s a three-year-old, and we’re asking a bit of him.”
Price’s Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss is nearing his resuming run in the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).
Taking on the older horses in the $500,000 feature is naturally not going to suit the three-year-old, but Price is using it and the Futurity Stakes as a yardstick for his assault on the Australian Guineas.
“Mighty Boss worked good, no blinkers, I didn’t need to see much more from him,” he said.
“He’s had a really good prep – I can’t help him too much more.
“If it was an average 1400-metre race, he’d probably go and win – but it’s a C.F. Orr.
“A couple of Weiry’s big guns, Tosen Stardom and Brave Smash [and Black Heart Bart], if they’re right, they’re going to be hard to beat.”
BY RACING.COM