Timing critical for Caulfield Guineas pair

The Chris Waller stable may have the two leading fancies for the Caulfield Guineas, but the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is not conceding defeat.

Price knows only too well that the Guineas can throw up an upset having prepared Mighty Boss at $101 to take out the coveted 1600m race for three-year-olds in 2017.

Waller saddles $3.50 top elect Autumn Boy and $4 second pick Wodeton while Price and Kent Jnr have Space Rider ($34) and Planet Red ($18) lining up for their stable.

Price said it is all about timing and having your horse in peak condition to race in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas and he believes his two three-year-olds are in that condition.

“I have no complaints about their training, but you have to come here on the day and have a bit of luck,” Price said.

“You can only have them right for the day and I think both of mine are right. They have both had preps for the mile.

“Mighty Boss came here and was $101, so it can be that type of race.”

Space Rider has one ‘blip’ on his form when seventh at Moonee Valley two starts back before running fourth to Estremo in the Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 20.

Planet Red finished third in that race after finishing fourth in the same contest at Moonee Valley behind Rosberg on September 6.

“If you give Planet Red some sort of each-way chance, then you give Space Rider some sort of each-way chance,” Price said.

“I worked them together on Saturday on the grass and I thought they were perfect.

“Planet Red looks beautiful, and Space Rider looks good too. Planet Red is the uncomplicated gelding, and they hold form if they are physically right, while colts (which Space Rider is) on the day can get a bit distracted.”

Planet Red is by Admire Mars, a champion miler in Japan and a winner of the International Mile in Hong Kong, and Price believes Planet Red has the attributes to be a good miler on Australian soil.

Price took the decision to hold back Planet Red from stepping up to the mile too quickly.

“When I had him in work earlier, I thought he had an immature frame, and I resisted the temptation of getting him up to the mile,” Price said

“This last two weeks has been perfect for him, and he is blooming.

“All I can say is ‘job done’ with both of them and it is now up to them to show they can do it.

“Charm Stone went to the Manikato and I don’t think everything turned up to their best rating on that night, but that’s half the thing.

“You have to have your horse spot on for the day and it comes down to timing, and that’s why I try and win these races with timing and I’m very happy with the timing of these two.”