Lightly raced Raikoke has tested the patience of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable, but they expect the gelding to reward them when he kicks off his campaign at Moonee Valley.
The now four-year-old runs in the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) on Saturday, his first outing since finishing last in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.
Raikoke did not start his racing career until the second half of his three-year-old year and was successful on debut at Sandown in January.
After that maiden victory, Raikoke jumped straight to Group 3 company, winning the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before running fifth in the Inglis Sprint over the straight 1200m course at Flemington in March.
Price said Raikoke had been on the immature side in those four starts of his first campaign but was now a more rounded horse that had grown and filled out his frame.
“He’s always been an immature horse but he’s a different horse now after his first preparation and a spell,” Price said.
“He’s finally the right shape. He’s always been a talented horse, and the owners will have a nice horse to race.”
Raikoke has won two Cranbourne jump-outs in preparation for Saturday’s return and Price took advantage of taking the gelding to The Valley on Tuesday morning for a look at the track.
He worked with debut winner Public Attention who is being set to contest the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on September 7.
“He’s had two good trials, and he had a good piece of work on Tuesday, and I expect he’ll show up on Saturday,” Price said.
“Jamie Kah is on, and he’s set for a good preparation.
“It’s an ideal race for him to come back in and hopefully win, but I want to see him come back, then we can seek some Black Type with him after that, although he is a gelding.”
