Samaready is being aimed at a late August return. Photo by: Steve Hart.

After a stunning two-year-old season where she won the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes and finished third as favourite in the Golden Slipper, injury hit the Mick Price-trained sprinter.

Samaready managed just one start as a three-year-old, finishing fourth in the Quezette Stakes last August, before spending the rest of spring and the entire autumn on the sidelines.

But Price remains confident the daughter of More Than Ready can make an impact as a four-year-old and has even tentatively pencilled in late August as a possible timeframe for her return.

“She’s been in work all of June so all things going well she’ll probably head to the races sometime towards the end of August,” Price told Racing Victoria.

Price is yet to outline any targets for Samaready but said it is likely she will stick to set weights races.

“She isn’t going to be the easiest horse to place,” he said.

Bought for $150,000 at the 2011 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the rising four-year-old has collected more than $1.2 million in prizemoney despite her injury problems restricting her to just six career starts.

Samaready is currently at Limitless Lodge in New South Wales undergoing pre-training but will ramp up her preparation at Price’s Caulfield base early next month.

Guelph is trainer Peter Snowden's pick of his 3 fillies in the Blue Diamond. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Mick Price trained Samaready bolted in last year beating No Looking Back from the Gai Waterhouse stable with Anthony Cummings’ filly Armed For Action third.

Snowden will saddle up three fillies, Guelph from barrier twelve, the unbeaten Metastasio from eleven and Montesgur who will jump from gate seven.

Guelph has been Snowden’s pick of his three fillies is the lead up and even though the Exceed And Excel filly has drawn near the outside of the fourteen horse field, she has held her spot near the top of the betting with unbeaten Adelaide speedster Miracles Of Life.

Snowden is looking for a one two three result after taking out the Blue Diamond with champion two year old Sepoy in 2011 and honestly thinks that the fillies are superior to the colts and geldings this year.

“I think of what we’ve seen so far the fillies are better,” Snowden said.

“Guelph has been my choice of them but she isn’t Sepoy that’s for sure.”

Snowden has taken the wide barrier draw for Guelph and Metastasio in his stride and won’t change the racing style of his fillies.

From her wide gate Metastasio with Glen Boss aboard will go forward with Montsegur while Kerrin McEvoy will be hoping for plenty of speed from the inside runners to give him the opportunity to slot Guelph in midfield and save her the final run home.

“The other fillies are on speed horses, they will be in similar spots in the race and where they sit depends on how many others go forward,” Snowden said.

“Guelph is a nice filly who is going the right way, has been aimed at one race and to me she is going terrific.”

“She is big and strong and she has a great brain, knows how to switch off in a race and she relaxes on a loose rein which is brilliant for two year olds.”

“When you give her a squeeze she picks up, she doesn’t over race and waste nervous energy which most two year olds do this early in the season.”

Guelph and Miracles Of Life, who has drawn the rails, are battling for favouritism with the Adelaide filly holding the top spot at $2.90 in front of Snowden’s filly at $3.30, while Metastasio is next in the betting at $6.50 with Montsegur at the good odds of $26.

Miracles Of Life has returned to Melbourne from her Morphettville base and trainer Daniel Clarken is happy with the filly’s progress since winning the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview for Fillies (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26.

“She’s done really well since her last win and I’m going there very happy,” Clarken said.

“I’m more than comfortable with where’s she drawn.

“I’m enjoying the experience. Tuesday was one of her better gallops and she’s ready to go.”

Melbourne’s leading trainer Peter Moody has been left with three runners following the scratching of his top fancy Thermal Current  because of a hamstring injury.

Moody’s three youngsters are at long odds in the betting with Dissident at $21, Quest  For Peace at  $51 and Kona Breeze a $71 chance.

Samaready to miss the Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Last year’s Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner was set to resume racing in the Listed $120,000 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley next Friday night.

Price is hopeful the injury is only short term and is eyeing the Sydney Autumn Carnival for the valuable filly.

“She has a torn muscle on the near-side hind between the sacroiliac and the groin,” Price said.

“We think she did it after a gallop on Tuesday morning.

“We are going to send her to Rockmount and have her monitored every week by a chiropractor and a vet until the injury comes good.

“Sacroiliac injuries can be a bit touchy and I don’t want to be playing around with them whilst she is sensitive.

“She wasn’t right after the gallop so I can’t take any risks.

“But it’s a soft tissue injury, you wouldn’t think it will take forever to recover.”

Price had been happy with the progress of Samaready in two jump out wins at Cranbourne and Caulfield after she was sent to the spelling paddock after only one appearance in the Spring which saw the More Than Ready filly run below par when fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Blue Diamond Stakes undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the  favourite but could only finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Samaready set to resume in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Price had originally pencilled in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington this Saturday because the filly had been going so well in her preparation but Vinery Stud General Manager Peter Orton opted to abort a clash with Black Caviar first up.

“It was decided after talking with Mick Price that we didn’t want to run her in a 1000 metre sprint against Black Caviar after not racing for a while,” Orton said.

“There’s a hell of a lot of racing in front of her and the Typhoon Tracy is against her own sex at Listed level which we thought was the right stepping stone for her to let us know where she is at.”

Price and Orton will wait until after the Typhoon Tracy Stakes before committing to a definite Autumn program but a run in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 could still be on the agenda if Samaready performs well at her first run for six months.

“From that if she’s brilliant then you can look at a Newmarket,” Orton said.

“We think she looks more like a 1400-1600 metre filly the way she’s bred and finishes her races off but we don’t know that yet. Races like the Coolmore (1500m) and Queen of the Turf (1500m) in Sydney could be on the radar as could the Robert Sangster in Adelaide (1200m).

“There’s an enormous amount of opportunities for a filly at her level so it’s really just about her having a run and letting us know where she’s at.”

Samaready has pleased Price and regular rider Craig Newitt in two jump out wins at Cranbourne and Caulfield after she was sent to the spelling paddock after only one appearance in the Spring which saw the More Than Ready filly run below par when fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said after Samaready’s Caulfield jump out win last week.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the  favourite but could only finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Black Caviar not raced since winning at Royal Ascot last June. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Satin Shoes is one of thirteen opponents that have been nominated to take on Black Caviar in the race that has been named after the world’s number one sprinter and Conners has almost conceded defeat.

“If we can run second to Black Caviar and get a Group 1 placing, then that will be ok,” Conners said.

”If you’re not in it you can’t win it and anything can happen on the day.”

Conners is confident that Satin Shoes will go into the Lightning in top shape and the Flying Spur mare is no stranger to running down the Flemington straight with a Group 1 placing behind Sepoy and Foxwedge in the 2011 Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

”She’s had a couple of jumpouts and won a trial here very very easily last week,” Conners said.

”She’s got down to Melbourne without any problems and will work down the straight tomorrow and line up on Saturday.”

Top Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has been snapped up by Conners for the Lightning Stakes ride after Paul Messara decided not to nominate his Group 1 winning mare Ortensia.

As well as Black Caviar, premiership leading trainer Peter Moody has also entered Group 1 winner Moment Of Change and short course specialist Golden Archer.

Moody is very pleased with the progress of his super star and said Black Caviar is ready to return to the racetrack after having a long layoff since taking her unbeaten record to twenty-two wins in the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot last June.

“I thought she was stuffed after Royal Ascot. I told the owners that it had come to an end,” Moody said.

“But, she travelled back from England really well, lost just seven kilos, really appreciated her time off and then had some time in the water walker.

“Her legs are all good. This is the race, the only race, I’ve set her for.

“It’s the best she has been in two or three years.”

Moment Of Change is having his first run back after winning the Group 1 $400,000 Clamms Seafood Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 30.

While Golden Archer has shown his liking for Flemington with a win and two seconds down the famous straight course.

Moody is waiting to see how Black Caviar comes through her first run for over seven months before mapping out a definite Autumn Carnival program which will be her last campaign before heading off to the breeding barn.

“This is the only race I’ve worried about,” Moody said.

“We’ll see where we go after the Lightning. There’s options for her, but all I’m worried about is the Lightning.”

Trainer Mick Price is confident that last year’s Group 1 Blue Diamond winner Samaready is in fine tune to take on the best sprinter in the world.

Samaready hasn’t raced since finishing a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18 but has pleased Price with her trackwork leading up to her return.

“We’re very happy with her,” Price said.

“She’ll go into the Lightning Stakes in good order. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult for her but she’s in good shape for it,” Price added with the thought of coming up against Black Caviar.

Samaready will resume racing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Samaready, who has been away from the racetrack for more than six months, has continued to improve over the last couple of weeks and today’s jump out win followed a similar display at Cranbourne last week which  impressed jockey Craig Newitt.

“She feels like the two-year-old we knew last year,” Newitt said last week.

And trainer Mick Price is also excited that his top line filly is finally ready to compete again.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said.

“The track was a bit choppy, especially after they got to the fifth trial of the morning.

“She’ll go into the Lightning Stakes in good order. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult for her but she’s in good shape for it.”

Price was referring to the fact that rival Caulfield trainer Peter Moody has earmarked the race named after his mighty mare Black Caviar also as the race her return to the racetrack.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the Golden Slipper favourite.

Newitt, who had partnered the filly in all her races, had to bring Samaready from worse than midfield on the home turn before running home to finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Samaready only made one appearance in the Spring before Price sent her back to the spelling paddock when all was not well after the filly was a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Price is undecided where Samaready will go after the Lightning with the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 an option or he could turn his attention to the sprints over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Price suggests that the Group 1 $350,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 30 would be a suitable race for the More Than Ready filly.

“She’s shown already that racing on her Sydney leg is no problem,” Price said.

“A race like The Galaxy could be a good one for her. Under handicap conditions, that race might turn out to be her best chance of winning another Group I.”

Price took out last year’s Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with his smart filly Samaready and will saddle up first starters Future Gains and La Ballerine as well Drfiting Cube who has had one start for a fifth at Ballarat.

The Caulfield trainer has selected the USA bred La Ballerine as the one that has taken his fancy and has shown enough ability on the track to suggest that she would not be out of place in the Blue Diamond line up.

‘She is clearly our pick but there are probably five or six of that sort of filly there but we do have an opinion of her,” Price said.

”It’s all or nothing on Saturday. If she wins it’s off to the Blue Diamond but even if she can only run a place there is some valuable black type there.”

La Ballerine has continued to improve in the lead up to her race debut with Price being very impressed with recent trackwork and trials.

”She’s had a couple of trials and got clobbered at Sandown in one but that was a good learning experience for her,” Price said.

”She went well in a jump out here last Tuesday and also trialled well last preparation.”

”She worked well on the course proper this morning with a horse that has won in town and finished on terms with her.”

Price is expecting a vast improvement from Encosta De Lago filly Drifting Cube who was unplaced in a Ballarat two year old maiden on January 10 but is unsure about Future Gains who Price thinks will be better at her next preparation.

‘I think she is a filly of the future. She’s quick enough and goes good but I just want to monitor her during the week before deciding which way we go,” Price said.

Last year’s winner Samaready is on track to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday week after winning a jump out at Caulfield today.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said.

“The track was a bit choppy, especially after they got to the fifth trial of the morning.

“She’ll go into the Lightning Stakes in good order. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult for her but she’s in good shape for it.”

Price was referring to the fact that rival Caulfield trainer Peter Moody has earmarked the race named after his mighty mare Black Caviar also as the race her return to the racetrack.

Samaready will trial at Werribee on Tuesday. Photo by: Steven Dowden.

The pair are two of the big guns in the stable of Caulfield trainer Mick Price and are likely to get the chance to press their claims at the elite level this autumn.

Samaready showed signs of her two-year-old form during a jump-out earlier this week, giving every indication she will be more than just a juvenile star.

After winning the first four starts of her career and finishing third in the Golden Slipper, injury restricted the More Than Ready filly to just a disappointing fourth in her one start in the Quezette Stakes during the spring.

It is believed Samaready will kick off her autumn campaign in either the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1200m) on February 16 or the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) the following week and will head to Sydney later in the autumn to tackle the Coolmore Classic (1500m) and Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m).

Despite having eight unbeaten starts to his name, Callanish does not yet have the profile of his younger stablemate.

No matter how well placed a horse is, it takes a special effort to win eight consecutive races but the Seymour Cup winner is likely to face some tougher tests this preparation.

Price is yet to reveal the autumn plans for the son of Fastnet Rock but he has been nominated for both the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington and the Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.

Newitt was aboard Samaready when she won a Cranbourne jump out on Tuesday morning and declared that the three year old is ready to kick off a successful Autumn campaign.

“She feels like the two-year-old we knew last year,” Newitt said.

The Mick Price trained filly hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the Golden Slipper favourite.

Newitt, who had partnered the filly in all her races, had to bring Samaready for worse than midfield on the hometurn before running home to finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Price was looking forward to a great Spring but had to send Samaready back to the spelling paddock when all was not well after the filly was a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Conor Phelan, representing owners Vinery Stud indicated that Samaready was ready to begin her Autumn campaign now that she has shown that she is back on track with the easy jump out win.

“A decision was made to give her a proper spell and target the autumn carnival rather than try and play catch-up after the first-up effort,” Phelan said.

“She had three months in the paddock and on the evidence of the jump-out it looks as though the right decision was made.”

“We still aren’t sure on a start date in Melbourne but she will be coming to Sydney with the Coolmore and Queen Of The Turf logical options.”

“There was every intention that she would race over a mile last spring and while it didn’t eventuate, the 1500m at Rosehill should be ideal as a stronger three-year-old filly.”

Price hasn’t made a final decision if Samaready will take on Black Caviar in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 or wait another week for the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

The Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 23 and the Group 1 $400,000  Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 6 look ideal races for the More Than Ready filly.

Crack A Roadie will take an untraditional path to the Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

And Theodore is also eyeing off the $2.4 million Inglis Triple Crown Bonus after winning the first leg, the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.

The Group 2 $220,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 9 and the $400,000 Inglis Guineas for three year olds over 1400m to be run at Scone in April or May next year are the second and third legs of the bonus.

“$1.7 million goes to the owners and the rest to the trainer and jockey, so I’m happy to still be in it and in the situation we find ourselves right now,” Theodore said.

Blue Diamond winners traditionally come through the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude races before the main event but Theodore has picked out the $250,000 2yo Inglis Premier (1200m) at Mornington on February 13 as the colt’s lead up.

“He’ll have a three-run preparation starting with the Inglis Premier on February 13, then the Blue Diamond before the Sires Produce,” Thoedore said.

2011 winner Sepoy won both the Preview and Prelude for the colts and geldings before taking out the Blue Diamond while last year’s winner Samaready won the fillies Prelude on her way to taking out the Group 1 for two year olds.

Craig Williams made the trip to Cranbourne yesterday morning to ride Crack A Roadie in a jump out and was happy with the progress of the Charge Forward two year old.

“I’m really happy with him. He’s looks physically a lot stronger after the break and he is full of himself as a colt, raring to go,” Williams said.

Theodore was equally as impressed as Williams with the hit out and is looking forward to a great Autumn with his colt.

“He won a jump-out here at Cranbourne yesterday very easily and showed us he was on track,” Theodore said.

“Craig Williams came down to ride him and he was thrilled with how he went.

“He said the horse felt terrific and we were in for a good prep.”

Williams has been aboard Crack A Roadie at his only two starts and as well as winning at Moonee Valley first up, the pair were narrowly beaten down the Flemington straight by Robbie Laing’s smart two year old Direct Charge in the Group 3 $150,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on November 10.

Adelaide filly Miracles Of Life is currently the $7.50 Blue Diamond favourite and can hold onto the top spot if she runs well in the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview for fillies over 1000m at Caulfield on Saturday while Crack A  Roadie in on the third line of betting at $15 with the Peter Snowden trained Metastasio splitting the pair at $11.