Four-year-old Spacecraft has been living up to his name with some aerial work in preparation for the Group Three Easter Cup at Caulfield.
Fearing that the entire may have been getting jaded, Price has schooled Spacecraft over jumps to refocus him for Saturday’s 2000-metre feature.
“He’s a bull and I just think a bit of variety is what he needed,” Price said.
“He might have been getting in a comfort zone in his work and just going through his motions so we gave him a bit of schooling.
“He’s not good at it but I think it has probably served its purpose.
“His last couple of gallops we sat him off a working partner and he’s gone straight past it.”
Spacecraft joined the Price stable last winter and in his first campaign won three races in row.
He has been competitive at his five runs this campaign including a third to stablemate Heart Of Dreams and Precedence in the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Last start the son of Galileo finished a long neck third to Base and Anudjawan in the Visvanathan Memorial Plate (2000m) at Caulfield on March 26.
“I think this is a good race for him based on his last 2000-metre effort,” Price, who won the 2009 Easter Cup with Miss Maren, said.
Spacecraft led in the race but Price said he would be looking for a more conservative ride on Saturday from Craig Newitt who replaces apprentice Ben Knobel.
“I didn’t think he needed to lead the other day,” Price said.
“He needs to be covered up and if he can get that sort of ride and he can relax he should hit the line pretty well.
“The distance is good for him, he seems in the right class and he is hard and fit so he gets his chance.”
Trainer Peter Moody said Luen Yat Forever had paid the penalty for his consistency by having to carry topweight of 58kg.
“But hopefully the drop in grade will help him to break through which he needs to do. He needs to learn how to win again,” he said.
The Honours List five-year-old won 12 races in Macau, the latest the Macau Cup (1500m) in August last year.
He came close to breaking through for his first Australian win in the Listed Sky High Stakes (1900m) two starts back before running ninth to Syreon in the Group Three Queen’s Cup (2000m), both at Rosehill.
In a wide-open Easter Cup, last year’s winner Fanjura is the $7.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Spacecraft at $8.
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