Samaready returns to the scene of one of her biggest victories in an attempt to bounce back to winning form in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Samaready went into the Group One Newmarket (1200m) at Flemington as favourite and the top seed from the Mick Price stable.
But the dual Group One winner was left in the wake of stablemate Lankan Rupee who dominated the race while the mare struggled into sixth.
Jockey Craig Newitt feared something must have been wrong with Samaready to have been beaten so convincingly, but that wasn’t the case.
“She came out of it perfect and the Oakleigh Plate form stood up and the Lightning Stakes was the B-Grade form for the Newmarket,” Price said.
“The Oakleigh Plate form was too good.
“There’s nothing wrong with her. She scoped up clean and she’s sound. She couldn’t go any quicker.”
Lankan Rupee beat Spirit Of Boom and Knoydart in the Oakleigh Plate and the same three filled the trifecta in the Newmarket.
Samaready was a first-up third in the Lightning Stakes while runner-up Shamexpress was the best of the Lightning Stakes runners in the Newmarket, finishing fourth.
Price is confident Samaready can bounce back on Friday night in the Group One William Reid (1200m) at weight-for-age.
Samaready was a dominant winner of the Group One Moir Stakes at the track last spring before having excuses when unplaced in the Manikato Stakes.
“She has won at the course and distance in a Group One. She’ll go all right,” Price said.
“She worked over 1000 metres on Saturday morning and worked well. The last furlong (200m) of her work was good and she pulled up good in the wind. All is well there.
“She’s perfect so she’ll go around and then probably go to Sydney.”
Newitt, who has been aboard Samaready in all her 11 starts, takes the ride again.
Price will also consider starting lightly-raced three-year-old Jazz Song.
A daughter of Fastnet Rock out of Group One winner Absolut Glam, Jazz Song won the Group Three Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last month at her third race start.
“Jazz Song is going to be an entry and I’ll have a look,” Price said.
“It’s probably a bit ambitious but I’m not sure what I’m doing with her yet.”
