Price is Ready For Victory in Golden Slipper

A favourable barrier has boosted the confidence of trainer Mick Price for his two year old Ready For Victory in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ready For Victory has drawn favourably in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Ready For Victory has drawn favourably in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Ready For Victory came up with barrier nine in the original draw but will likely start from seven in the final sixteen horses field with two of the three emergencies drawn inside of him.

Price said drawing midfield was ideal for the More Than Ready colt who will be able to get a cosy run in behind the speed before finishing the race off like he did when winning on debut down the Flemington straight in the Listed $120,000 Festival Of Racing 1000 (1000m) on March 7.

“That’s the way Nick Hall likes to ride anyway — finishing off the race with a late burst,” Price told the Herald Sun.

Top Melbourne jockey Nick Hall let Ready For Victory settle near the tail of the field at Flemington and the stylish colt was able to rein in the leaders close to the winning post.

Hall will be on Ready For Victory again in the Golden Slipper on Saturday.

Price has no worries about his colt handling the Sydney way of going after he worked the reverse way in fine style in a gallop at Caulfield this morning, finishing off the final 200m of his hit out in 11.48 seconds.

“He is a natural,” the top Caulfield trainer said.

“He rails like a greyhound the Sydney way of going and is fit and ready to head to Sydney on Wednesday night. He’s now drawn well and if he gets a bit of luck I fancy he can figure.”

Ready For Victory has been installed a $13 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au following today’s barrier draw while the Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver has drifted slightly to $3 but still remains the favourite after coming up with gate eighteen in the original draw, but will jump from fifteen if the emergencies fail to gain a start.

The John O’Shea trained Exosphere has been well supported after drawing gate ten and has firmed into $4 after going up at $4.60 this morning.

Latest Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Vancouver, $4 Exosphere, $11 Headwater,  $13 Ready For Victory, Furnaces $14 Haptic, $16 English, $19 Lake Geneva, $26 Speak Fondly, $34 Fireworks, Ottoman, Reemah, $41 Single Gaze $51 Haybah, $67 Odyssey Moon $101 Serenade, Look To The Stars, Racy, $201 Heavenly Hand

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.