After beginning the autumn unbeaten in his only eight starts, the talented galloper Callanish was hit a little harder than most when he stepped into the big time.
In three starts in good quality races over the past six weeks Callanish has been unable to reproduce the form that had him shaping as one of the finds of the off-season, but trainer Mick Price is a long way from giving up on the son of Fastnet Rock who he says has been setting up races for other runners lately.
Callanish runs in Saturday’s Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield and Price says he is in form and ready to win again.
“I threw him in at the deep end first-up in the Orr Stakes,” Price said.
“The theory was to test him out to see if he was up the Australian Cup.”
He wasn’t, and it has taken a couple more runs, a drop-off in class in Melbourne and an increase in distance for Callanish to find himself in a suitable race.
“The problem is he’s up in grade and he can’t run the sectionals required to win Blameys and good-class races at 1600 metres and less on top of the ground,” Price said.
“I’ve always wanted to get to 2000 metres with him and we’ve spent a fair bit of time getting him to relax.
“I want him to come out with some horses in front of him. I don’t want him being the bunny all the time.”
While Callanish meets a field that lacks the depth of his past three, it includes the David Hayes-trained import Jetaway who created an outstanding impression on debut.
Jetaway holds favouritism at $2.90 for the $150,000 feature with Callanish on the second line of betting at $4.20.
Saturday’s other feature, the $150,000 Group Three Victoria Handicap (1400m), has also attracted a strong field headed by Adelaide-trained Budriguez who dead-heated last start in the Blamey Stakes with Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune.
