Mick Price says its unfortunate two of his better three-year-olds will start their spring campaigns in the same race at Caulfield.
Prince Of Brooklyn and Ready For Victory are set to contest the Group Three H D F McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Ready For Victory
Ideally Price said he would like to separate the two colts as they head towards their spring goal of the Caulfield Guineas.
That will happen after Saturday’s race with Ready To Victory to head to Sydney for the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12 and Prince Of Brooklyn to stay in Melbourne.
Price said Saturday’s race was the ideal starting point for their spring campaigns.
“If I ran either of them in a shorter race, I felt I would be disadvantaging them,” Price said.
“I don’t try to separate them if the program suits each horse.”
Price said both horses have had perfect preparations for their returns with the pair trialling on two occasions at Cranbourne.
They wound up their preparations last Friday with Prince Of Brooklyn winning his heat and Ready For Victory, under Mark Zahra, finishing second in his.
Price said Ready For Victory could have won his trial but it was important for Zahra to get acquainted with the three-year-old.
Dale Smith, who rode Prince Of Brooklyn to his victories in Adelaide and Swan Hill, has the ride on Saturday.
Price feels the 1200m of Saturday’s race will suit Ready For Victory better than his stablemate.
“I think at the end of 1200 metres Ready For Victory would have the better turn of foot,” Price said.
“I think Prince Of Brooklyn’s best chance of winning a good race will be when he gets out over further as he’s out of a Zabeel mare.
“I think a mile would be good for him but a mile would be good for the good horses also.
“I’m happy with both horses. You’ll see two nice horses in the mounting yard on Saturday and hopefully they’ll run well.”
