The Mick Price and Michael Kent stable has strengthened their claims of capturing Victoria’s premier two-year-old contest following the stylish victory of Big Sky at Caulfield.
Big Sky heads the market from stablemate Guest House in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 21 following his win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.
Guest House, an impressive Cranbourne debut winner last month, will look to add to his record when he lines up in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield next Saturday.
Sent out the $1.60 favourite with wagering sites under Ben Melham, Big Sky led throughout in scoring a three-length win from Invincible Son ($10) with La Gitana ($6) a half-length away third.
Price is aiming for a third Blue Diamond victory having won with Samaready (2012) and Extreme Choice (2016) while Roedean (2003) was disqualified after returning a positive swab.
Price said the three weeks between Saturday’s victory and the Blue Diamond was a better fit for Big Sky rather than the two weeks of the Prelude and Blue Diamond.
He said Big Sky had made considerable improvement from his debut win at Flemington on January 17 to Saturday’s win.
“I think he lost a bit of nervousness (from Flemington),” Price said.
“He was a bit unsure of himself (that day), but today he was a bit cooler.
“He’s a colt that is learning. He’s not an alpha colt, he’s a quiet colt and if he has a good three weeks, he should turn up (and run well).
“I wanted to run him in this because I thought the three weeks would be good for him.
“A two-year-old, having his first prep, you can’t get too many runs out of them but hopefully he can get to the Blue Diamond and then maybe Sydney.”
Price said he was unsure how Saturday’s race would work but had full confidence in Melham, although the colt looked a little green in the final 200m.
“I think a furlong out he was clocking off which is not a great sign, so the extra pressure of a Blue Diamond won’t do him any harm,” Price said.
“He doesn’t have to lead all the time, but it’s just the way the two races have worked out.
“I won’t go putting any gear on him. I don’t like messing around too much with them.
“I just think we will let it unfold naturally. He’s got a good rider on every morning, so we’ll train him and let it unfold.”
