Mick Price has one of the leading chances for the G1 SA Derby
After winning Adelaide’s first $1 million race, Melbourne trainer Mick Price has one of the leading chances for another Group One race at Morphettville.
Price took out the Group One UBET Classic last week with Secret Agenda and on Saturday he saddles $6 equal second Luxbet favourite Netherfield in the South Australian Derby (2500m).
The lightly raced gelding was an unlucky fourth in the Derby lead-up, the Chairman’s Stakes (2030m) on April 29.
Fellow Melbourne galloper Odeon heads the market at $3.40.
“He’s a deserved second pick I think,” Price said.
“He should have won the Chairman’s but I thought Odeon did a good job to win a benchmark 84 against older horses.
“He looks the sticking point and he’s drawn better.”
The Caulfield trainer resisted the temptation to bring Netherfield back to Melbourne after his last start, saying he was not robust enough to handle the travel.
“I think within two weeks if you go there, come back, go there, come back, it’s too much,” Price said.
“I think it dehydrates your horse especially after a hard run.
“If you’re going up in distance you have to let your horse get over the run and then try and build him up for his next start.
“But if you’re floating them you’ve got to allow a couple of days for them to get over the trip.
“I think with Netherfield, being a lighter type of gelding, it’s a big danger and it could have taken the edge off him.”
Price said the South Australian Derby came into play after Netherfield ran second in a 1600m race at Sandown on April 17.
“He’s a nice New Zealand gelding, a clean winded three-year-old, so I thought we’d have a go,” Price said.
Price will also be represented in Adelaide by Silverhawk in the SA Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The two-year-old ran fourth on debut at Caulfield last month and will have the addition of blinkers on Saturday.
“He got back and was very green on debut but has improved a lot with blinkers since,” Price said.
