Stratcombe will shoot for a winning hat-trick in Saturday’s The Straight Six at Flemington after trainer Mick Price decided to keep him going for another week.
Stratcombe made it back-to-back 1100m wins on his home track at Caulfield last Saturday, prompting Price to declare he would be spelled and brought back for some of the better sprints during the spring.
However the four-year-old will now contest Saturday’s Listed 1200m sprint before he goes to the paddock.
“He only went up four ratings points (from 94 to 98) and obviously Shopaholic and Second Effort are the ones to beat,” Price said.
“But he’s pulled up well, he’s had a soft week being led off the pony, he looks really well, it’s a $100,000 Listed race and certainly I want to run.
“He’s going into black type races anyway next preparation and it would be nice if he won as it would get his rating up.”
Price and Stratcombe’s jockey Craig Newitt are going for successive Straight Six victories having won it 12 months ago with smart mare Dubleanny who was retired to stud last spring.
A winner of six of his 11 starts, Stratcombe’s only unplaced run was at his only appearance at Flemington when he finished 11th as favourite to Saturday’s rival Spurcific over 1200m in June last year.
“He wasn’t concentrating and he was gelded after that run,” Price said.
Stratcombe, who drew barrier three in the 15-horse field and will carry 58.5kg, has eased from $3 to retain favouritism at $3.30 with TAB Sportsbet after solid support for the Danny O’Brien-trained Shopaholic who has firmed from $7 to $4.20.
Curtana and Liveandletdie are at $8 with equal 60kg topweights Perturbo and last start Wangoom Handicap winner Second Effort at $13.
Perturbo was beaten a half-head when runner-up in the race last year but has to carry 7kg more this time.
The six-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing third to Rocking Force in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks Day last spring but he is capable fresh.
“I don’t think he’ll need the run. He seems to be as good as he’s ever been,” said co-trainer Cindy Alderson.
“He’s had two trials and he’s been well primed for this as it has been a target for him for a while.
“The only issue is he is going up to 60 kilos and the race looks to have a bit more depth (this year) and it is going to be a hard job for him.
“But he’s earned that weight with good form and he has to carry it.”
