Lightly-raced New Zealand-bred stayer Over The Sky should be suited by the rise in trip according to his co-trainer Mick Price.
Mick Price has been looking forward to the day where he could test Over The Sky at 2000m.
That opportunity comes on Saturday when Over The Sky runs in the MRC Membership Renewal Handicap at Caulfield.
A four-year-old son of Tavistock, Over The Sky has been taken along quietly by Price and his co-trainer, Michael Kent Jr, and will be lining up for his ninth start on Saturday.
Over The Sky is a four-time winner, three on country tracks, with his sole city win coming at a midweek meeting at Sandown.
That victory was prior to his last start third at Caulfield over 1600m on June 26 where the track suited those horses racing on the speed.
The rail on Saturday goes back into the true position.
“We’ve been looking to get him to the 2000 metres for a while and he should run well,” Price said.
“It will be interesting to see if he can show that he appreciates it as it will open up a few options for him around that 2000-metre point for a while.”
Mark Zahra has ridden the gelding in six of his eight starts, but is currently suspended, and is another ride for Jamie Kah on Saturday.
Price said Zahra has always been of the opinion the 2000m will suit Over The Sky.
“He’s a big, leggy, nice type of horse that we haven’t got to the bottom of yet,” Price said.
“He should develop into a nice open handicapper, so we’ll just take our time, not rush him.
“With a horse like this, you’ve got to take advantage of his benchmark rating. There’s no use throwing them in the deep end, because once they get a high rating, they’re kept up there.
“It’s a fast run up, but a very slow run down.”
