Trainer Mick Price likes the look of a couple of two-year-olds he is set to unveil at Moonee Valley but also concedes they will improve with time.
Price has Battlecruiser and Sweeping The Board running in Saturday’s Punters.com.au Plate and, as both are Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold qualified, they will be racing for an extra $50,000 on top of Saturday’s first prize.
Both have been easy in early betting on Saturday’s race, drifting to $21, with the Darren Weir-trained Yes Yes Yes a pronounced $2.10 favourite, firming from $2.50.
Yes Yes Yes is racing for a trip to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 12 for which he is the $8 third elect behind $5 co-favourites Dubious and Unite And Conquer.
Price says he will learn more about his two charges on Saturday with the pair to start from the two inside barriers in the 1200m-sprint.
“They’ll be competitive but I also think they’ll be better three-year-olds once they mature a bit,” Price said.
“This will give me a look at them and see what we can do with them and maybe where we can get to later on.”
While Battlecruiser and Sweeping The Board may not have met with early betting support, their stablemate Masculino has been heavily backed from $4.20 to $2.80 to win the Event @ The Valley Handicap.
Price said Masculino, a last-start winner over 1720m, would appreciate the 2040m on Saturday although Moonee Valley may not be his preferred track.
“He’s won at Moonee Valley before and maybe if it was a mile I’d be worried because they can dash around there but 2040 metres is a bit different,” Price said.
“The horse is going great and this is his trip.
“If he has a nice run in the race he should be a big chance again.”
