The presence of Pride Of JenniĀ in the All-Star Mile makes for a confusing contest for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Sabaj.
The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday is ‘second choice’ for Sabaj after a bad blood picture forced him to miss the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last week.
SabajĀ had beenĀ on a path to the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28 via the Blamey and the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday week, knowingĀ PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni was All-Star Mile bound.
“Originally, we wanted to go Blamey, Peter Young, Australian Cup,” Price said.
“We thought that was the bestĀ optionĀ because if PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni is at her best, she is unbeatable.
“IĀ don’tĀ know if she is, but whenever she isĀ aĀ race, they can be upset races.
“Who is the horse that carts up?
“Those races are so unusual when PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni is blasting away, but because we had a bad blood count,Ā we’veĀ ended up in the All-Star Mile, andĀ I’mĀ not sure whether we end up in the Australian Cup after that or not.”
Price said Sabaj hadĀ an inflammatory marker pop up in his blood, adding that he never starts a horse withĀ thatĀ type ofĀ marker.
He said Sabaj was back in good health and from a good draw, he expectsĀ theĀ geldingĀ to run well, although heĀ won’tĀ be the one being the lead-up horse as others try to bridgeĀ the gap on PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni.
“He’ll be around there somewhere at the finish, but everyone needs her to have an off day,” Price said.
“If you have horses behind you and only PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni in front of you,Ā it’sĀ a tough gig, but IĀ don’tĀ think that will be us.
“I’mĀ not sure who it is, and that is why it can be an upset race. You can only ride the race you are in, not PrideĀ OfĀ Jenni’s race.
“If she capitulates,Ā you’reĀ on, if not, no-one beats her.”
Price said he had been wanting to test Sabaj at 2000m, andĀ felt the Australian Cup was the right race to do that.
But with the ‘hiccup’,Ā he does not know whether Sabaj will get to that race and he may need to wait for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick next month.
The Doncaster Mile (1600m) may beĀ an optionĀ in the lead up.
“He’sĀ a good miler on a big trackĀ but plans are up in the air because we had to divert,” Price said.
“I’veĀ been keen to try him at 2000 metres because I thinkĀ he’sĀ got that tempo about him and if they do get 2000 metres, itĀ opens upĀ more options.
“He could end up in the Queen Elzabeth,Ā or heĀ couldĀ goĀ to Queensland,Ā but we were going to find outĀ a butĀ in the Australian Cup.”
