The brand new trainer for last year’s Gr 2 winner, Leonardo Da Hinchi, says the 3YO will be aimed at the Gr 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
And joining him in Queensland will be last week’s Gr 1 winner Spright.
Mick Price who took over the training of the gifted Leonardo Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook-Portrait) following the DQ of his former trainer Darren Weir, watched his new recruit blaze through an impressive 800m jump out yesterday morning, then said he would start on Saturday in Melbourne before heading north.
“I think he’s a very forward horse,” Price said. “He trialled Tuesday here at Caulfield and he went well. His trials have been good and he’s been down the beach and goes into the race with a nice prep under his belt.”
Leo, when trained by Weir, won 3 of 6 starts and was placed in 2 others. He was beaten a nose by eventual Gr 1 Star Doncaster winner Brutal, then won the Gr 2 Stutt Stakes over 1600m against his age group.
His latest start was a hard-finishing 6th in the Gr 1 Caulfield Guineas behind The Autumn Sun. He is still a colt and one of the very best sons racing as an entire by his late father Hinchinbrook.
He’s been out such a long time because it was discovered after his failed Caulfield Guineas run that he needed fetlock surgery.
Meanwhile Gary Frazer who trains Spright, another offspring by Hinchinbrook, has told Andrew Bensley on Skyracing that he has plans to send her north too.
Spright has won 6 races and placed a further 9 times for $1,268,095 in prizemoney.
She stormed home to win the Gr 1 Robert Sangster Stakes last Saturday over 1200m in fast time considering the track was a Soft 5.
Traditionally horses who perform well in Adelaide hold their own in Brisbane.
The Stradbroke Handicap is on 8 June over 1400m and Spright who races like she should appreciate the trip, has never won over 1400m.