Mick Price is excited about the ability of his Queensland recruit Wisdom Of Water, who debuts for the stable in the Group Two Danehill Stakes, but adds he has a small reservation regarding his fitness.
The former Toby and Trent Edmonds trained three-year-old was sent to Price and co-trainer Michael Kent Junior as his owners wanted to target the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes, also over 1200 metres at Flemington in November.
Two starts ago, Wisdom Of Water won the Group Three Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast before he finished fifth in the Group One J J Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Danehill Stakes
“At this stage he’s a Group Three horse trying to win a Group Two race and hopefully a Group One,” Price said.
“He’s a big, strong horse who has a lot of talent but he needs to learn about being loaded in the barriers.
“As a result of this we are a trial behind with him as he missed one as he refused to be loaded in.
“He’s going in with only one trial behind him so he’s going to improve a lot fitness-wise.”
Price also has Annavisto, who won her debut at Mornington, in the same race and says she’s capable of running well.
“Everything suggests it’s the wrong race for her but it fits in well in terms of timing with her preparation as she’s on a path to get to the Thousand Guineas,” Price said.
“Hopefully she can pick up a place which would be great for her value.”
Price will also take a two-pronged attack into the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) with Parlophone and Gypsy Choice.
Parlophone was unplaced last start when she bucked and Price hoped it was simply because she didn’t get on with champion jockey Damien Oliver
“It’s happened twice and only with Oliver on. It’s never happened in trackwork or when Jye McNeil, who rides her, has been on,” Price said.
Price said while former New Zealand mare My Gold Bracelet is facing a rise in class in the Let’s Elope Stakes she would come into contention if the track became heavy.
He rated their Melbourne Cup runner Oceanex as a top-five chance in the 1700 metre event and confirmed she would have her next start in the Turnbull Stakes.
