Mick Price will try to pull off wins two years apart with Nine Tales in Saturday’s The Alannah and Madeline Foundation Stakes at Sandown.
The Tale Of The Cat gelding won the Group Three 1500m event in 2009, beating Jungle Ruler on a good track.
He won again over 1400m at Caulfield the following May but went amiss last spring and spent more than a year on the sidelines.
Now a seven-year-old, Nine Tales ran a solid fourth to Facile Tigre over 1200m at Caulfield when resuming and two weeks later was sixth to He’s An Angel over 1400m at Bendigo on October 26.
“He had a long time off. His first-up run was okay and he got back at Bendigo and ran on but he’ll take a more forward position on Saturday,” Price said.
“After drawing barrier 10 of 11 he’s got to go forward.
“He’s going really well and he’ll give a bit of cheek. He’s just about ready to win.”
Price said he wouldn’t run Nine Tales on a track that was rated slow or worse.
The Hillside circuit was rated a slow (6) on Friday but Sandown racecourse manager Tim Bailey predicted it would improve to a dead (5) come race day.
Craig Newitt, who has ridden Nine Tales in six of his seven wins including this race two years ago, retains the ride on the gelding.
Among his rivals is smart wet tracker Jungle Ruler who won the Peninsula Cup (1600m) at Mornington at what was his 100th start last Sunday week.
The eight-year-old grey, who has won 19 races and more than $800,000 in prize money, will be ridden by Dean Yendall.
The one to beat looks to be the talented Under The Eiffel who is out to complete a hat-trick following a first-up win over 1300m at Seymour followed by a 1400m victory at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Craig Williams returns from a careless riding suspension, which cost him the ride on Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup, with Under The Eiffel likely to be the shortest priced of his eight rides on the nine-race card.
The Tony Vasil-trained four-year-old has firmed from $3.20 to $2.50 favouritism with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Launay at $4, Rockpecker ($8.50), Nine Tales ($10) with Sistine Angel at $11 and Jungle Ruler next best at $13.
AAP TURF
