Proliferate trainer Mick Price has opted to forgo the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in favour of Friday’s Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley in the hope of reviving the outstanding colt’s Australian Derby campaign.

The son of More Than Ready finished seventh in his last start in the Australian Guineas (1600m) and Price said it would have been a mistake for the three-year-old to run at Randwick this Saturday.

“We entered him for the Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday but against Manawanui and those horses he would get flogged,” Price said.

Price also admitted that a stayer’s program all along would have been more beneficial given the end goal is the 2400 metre Australian Derby to be held on April 14.

“He’s a stayer and last start he should have run over 1800 (metres), then in the Alister Clark instead of trying to win a Group 1 mile (1600m) which came unstuck,” he said.

The up and coming three-year-old has signalled plenty of potential, having recorded three wins from five starts and only not placed on one occasion.

On the back of the Australian Guineas, Price said the talented colt may be a bit underdone ahead of the 2000 metre Alister Clark Stakes but insisted it remains the right race given his future targets.

“Going from a mile to 2040 metres on Friday night may catch me short with him but with a view to where we should be going, it is the right race,” he said.

Price also said that despite Proliferate being a bit short on distance in the lead up, he would go into the race fresh.

“It is 13 days between runs coming from a mile but I’m happy with him and he’s a clean winded horse,” he said.

“He didn’t have much luck in the Guineas but he pulled up alright.”

To win the Alister Clark Stakes, Proliferate will have to overcome a quality field which includes Mister Milton who finished third in the Australian Guineas and Sangster who won last year’s 2500 metre Victoria Derby.