Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are never left wondering about the placement of their horses, especially their younger ones.
Firstly, they must show the pair they have the ability to make the grade and are then worthy of taking through the grades.
A four-time winner, Hedged will attempt to land his maiden Stakes win when he lines up in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday.
Hedged has been Stakes placed on two occasions, including the Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes (1200m) at Randwick 12 months ago, while last spring he was third when resuming in Group 3 company at Kembla Grange last November.
Price said Hedged should be well-placed in the Hareeba Stakes having had one run back from a break when finishing a first-up fifth in a benchmark 96 race at Moonee Valley over 1200m on March 22.
The track that day favoured horses who were up on the speed, or in front, with Hedged racing midfield.
Hedged has won from the front, and he has performed well from back in the field, and Price said it would be the stable’s preferred option to race forward on Saturday.
“He got back in the Arrowfield two years ago and ran second and then he went to Ipswich and lead and won,” Price said.
“So, if he’s ridden properly around Mornington, he could be well-suited.
“I’m happy with the way he’s going. He needs his toe in the ground and that’s when he’s at his best.
“If he gets on a track that is too firm, like a lot of horses, he doesn’t run up to his best.”
Price is aiming for his third win in the feature sprint on Mornington Cup Day having taken the race with La Famelia in 2008 and Bassett in 2017.
Hedged has drawn barrier five in the 11-horse field and will be ridden by Ben Melham.
