Space Rider will be out to build his Australian Guineas credentials when he lines up at Flemington.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr -trained galloper runs in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday as the lead-up to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later.
Space Rider will be aiming to join Planet Red in the Australian Guineas after the stablemate produced an eye-catching second to Observer in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Ethan Brown, who rode Observer to victory, partners Space Rider in Saturday’s contest after being aboard the three-year-old in his first-up win in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on January 24.
“It was a big win first-up. He sat three-wide, no cover,” Kent Jnr said.
“He was there to be challenged but fought all of them off, but it’s going to get harder from here on in, however Ethan Brown sticks.
“The colt of Chris Waller, Sixties, will be hard to beat. It looks to have come back really well, but our guy is a lovely big moving horse that is really going to love Flemington.”
All three of Space Rider’s victories have come first-up, but Kent Jnr said the big roomier track at Flemington will suit the colt on Saturday rather than the tighter circuits he has raced on second-up previously.
Kent Jnr was delighted with the return run of Planet Red at Caulfield last week.
Runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas during the spring, a race Space Rider finished 11th in, Planet Red charged home from the back of the field under Jamie Kah last Saturday.
“If he had drawn a softer gate, he lands a pair or two closer and it might have been interesting,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s going to thrive off that run and we’re looking forward to the Australian Guineas.”
