Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s two Cranbourne Cup runners retained their prominent places in betting on the $500,000 Listed event after faring well at Wednesday morning’s barrier draw.
Pre-draw favourite Visinari consolidated his place at the top of the market after drawing landing barrier seven in the field of 15, while Our Playboy will start from barrier two.
“That’s perfect, we were hoping to draw inside eight with both of them,” Kent said.
“There looks a lot of speed in this race, so I’m glad they’ve drawn soft because it makes things a lot more uncomplicated.”
Visinari heads into the 1600m event off a fourth placing in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day, which was his first time outside the top two in seven starts since joining the Price/Kent team.
The imported son of Dark Angel was acquainted with the Cranbourne racecourse in a gallop under apprentice jockey Matt Chadwick on Tuesday morning, which Kent said could prove significant.
“He is a big horse, 17 hands high with a massive stride, so it was good that he had a bit of practice (at the track),” Kent said.
“Matthew Chadwick said that he could have got around the track a bit better, so maybe that practice is important and I think the barrier draw allows us to get into a nice spot where we’re not posted and we’ve got cover.
“Hopefully he’s just behind the speed and can attack on the corner.”
Visinari, who has 54.5kg, will be ridden by Daniel Moor with Ben Melham to take the ride on Our Playboy (56.5kg), who is looking to go one better than last year.
The five-year-old ran 12th last start, in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Randwick, but Kent said he was going better than that.
“The horse is in fantastic order, it was probably one of the better 12ths you will see last start – he had no hope from where he was, last on the corner and he flashed home late – so we’re very happy with the way the horse is going and if any rain arrives it will be a bonus for him.”
Topweight with 61kg is Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) winner Callsign Mav (barrier 10), while consistent Bendigo gelding Just Folk (59kg, barrier one), Sale Cup winner Uncle Bryn (56kg, eight) and Adelaide visitor Ironclad (55.5kg, 13) are among the others engaged.
