Mick Price is confident about the chances of his leading Golden Slipper fancies after a reverse-direction gallop at Caulfield.
Flying Artie, with Damien Oliver aboard, worked on the inside of Extreme Choice (Craig Newitt) and Price said it was pleasing work from the pair on Tuesday morning.
Extreme Choice holds Golden Slipper favouritism at $2.80 over Flying Artie at $6.
Extreme Choice
The pair finished one-two in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield last month and Price is leaving nothing to chance in having them at their top for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 19.
“They weren’t out to compete against each other, but they’re nice galloping partners,” Price told Melbourne radio station RSN.
“They had a bit of a practice go on Saturday morning on the inside grass which is cambered, so when you work them the reverse way it pushes them onto their right leg.
“We’ve found that if you give them a couple of practices they get it pretty right.”
Price said everything had went to plan since Extreme Choice and Flying Artie ran the quinella in the Blue Diamond and it was now a matter of getting them to the Golden Slipper fit and healthy.
“Some things can go the wrong way but at this stage they are beautifully sound, problem-free and I think they’ll be hard to beat,” he said.
Extreme Choice and Flying Artie leave for Sydney on Thursday with Price favouring a gallop on the Rosehill course proper next Tuesday, although they will nominated barrier for trials on Monday.
Meanwhile, Price favours running Secret Agenda against three-year-old opposition in the Goodwood Racecourse Trophy with 60kg rather than in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
He said the 1100m was a better fit for the filly than the 1200m of the Newmarket.
“I spoke to Craig about the Newmarket and I just think nine times out of ten you are better off carrying more weight against lesser opposition than carrying 50 kilos in the Newmarket and running a good fifth,” he said.
