Group 1 winning Caulfield trainer Mick Price is hoping for a top three finish for his filly Sailing By in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Apprentice Michael Dee will ride Sailing By in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Sailing By is listed as one of the outsiders of at the field at $34 at Ladbrokes.com.au but is going into Saturday’s Group 1 for the three year olds on the back of a first up second to Mahuta in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13.
“Sailing By has a little bit of Mahuta form. She will run really good. Run in the first three will be fantastic,” Price told racing.com.
The Darren Weir trained Mahuta is racing in outstanding form and made it six wins on the trot with his victory in the Autumn Stakes and goes into the Australian Guineas as one of the fancied runners at $8.50.
Price can see Sailing By developing into a handy staying filly and will head to Sydney after the Australian Guineas to target the Group 1 $1m James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 9, the second day of ‘The Championships’.
“She is off to Sydney, I think she is an AJC Oaks filly, so that is the way we are going,” Price said.
Apprentice Michael Dee takes the ride on Sailing By who will jump from barrier seven in the fifteen horse field.
Price will saddle up three runners in the Australian Guineas and as well as Sailing By, will have Victoria Derby winner Tarzino ($8) and Ready For Victory ($41) representing the stable.
Victoria Derby winner Tarzino resumed for an eye catching fourth in the Autumn Stakes while Price is hoping for better performance from Ready For Victory who finished tenth to Tivaci in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
Australian Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Xtravagant, $8 Tarzino, $8.50 Palentino, Mahuta, $9 Perfect Reflection, $11 Risque, $17 Tivaci, Jameka, River Wild, $26 Vanburgh, $34 Sovereign Nation, Sailing By, $41 Bon Aurum, Ready For Victory, $61 Snoopy.
