Trainer Mick Price believes an extra week will make all the difference when new stable addition Night War makes her Victorian debut at Flemington on Saturday.
Price had the talented Western Australian filly ready to step out in the Monash Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday but made a late decision to miss the race after it became clear the track would be in the extreme heavy range.
“I came to the conclusion that it would require a very fit horse to win on a track like that,” Price said.
“So we decided to wait another week and bank on the track at Flemington being in better shape.”
Night War runs in the Monjon Australia Hcp (1000m) against a considerably inferior field to the one she would have met in the Monash.
The change in plans will also be appreciated by jockey Craig Newitt who is locked in battle with Luke Nolen for the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership in which they are tied on 68 wins each.
“Every win is becoming more and more important,” Newitt said.
“I thought she would be a good chance last week, but I got a couple of other winners to stay in touch with Luke.
“With the extra week’s work under her belt, it’ll be nice to have her on my side.”
For Newitt and Price, Night War has significance beyond the good ability she showed in Perth where she won five of her nine starts including the Group Two Karrakatta Plate and Group Three Lee Steere Stakes and earned almost $600,000.
She is a half sister to Price’s star filly Samaready who Newitt rode to victory in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes and into third place in the Group One Golden Slipper.
The filly has also rekindled Newitt’s memories of the West Australian filly Miss Andretti whom he partnered to a series of wins culminating in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2007.
“She hasn’t shown she’s another Miss Andretti,” he said.
“She’s very tiny. She’s one of the smallest three-year-olds we’ve got, but she’s got a stack of ability, she’s earned a lot of prizemoney, so the form’s there to stack up.”
As well as the likelihood of striking a better track, Price said Night War would be better suited all round at Flemington.
“She’s properly weighted this time. It’s a much better choice of races and I really couldn’t be happier with her,” Price said.
