Mick Price says he will be disappointed if High Ratio does not measure up when the colt makes his stakes racing debut in a key Blue Diamond lead-up at Caulfield.
High Ratio won convincingly in his only start at Bendigo on December 6 and steps out on his home track on Saturday in the Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings.
A barrier trial winner last week at Geelong, High Ratio is into $13 for this month’s Group One Blue Diamond (1200m).
Price said it would be interesting to see how High Ratio measures up from a Bendigo win to the Blue Diamond Prelude but has confidence the colt has the class.
“I thought he won at Bendigo like a good horse would win and I know the horse in the last 100 metres is a bit of a star gazer,” Price said.
“He just gives me the impression that he’s a colt with a big motor.
“I suppose we’ve got to find out on Saturday over 1100 metres under race day pressure, but I’m pretty confident with him.
“He’s a good horse.”
High Ratio, however, has to contend with barrier 13 of 14 in the Prelude against a field which includes Godolphin colt Plague Stone who is on the second line of Blue Diamond Stakes betting at $8.
Price paired High Ratio with Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss in a gallop on the Caulfield course proper on Tuesday morning and the younger horse maintained an advantage.
Mighty Boss resumes in Saturday’s Group One weight-for-age C F Orr Stakes.
“High Ratio, I wanted to have a solid half-mile gallop and Mighty Boss had a shortened-up sort of a gallop,” Price said.
“High Ratio finished in front of him. High Ratio is a pretty good horse, but Mighty Boss worked well and had no blinkers on.
“I didn’t need to see much more from him.”
BY AAP