Price Trio Taking Winning Form To Flemington Tomorrow

Mick Price only has three runners at Flemington tomorrow but the leading trainer is confident that Spirit Of Soul, General Jackson and Stratigraphy can all extend this winning runs in their respective events.

Craig Newitt wil ride Spirit Of Soul and General Jackson for Mick Price at Flemington tomorrow.

Craig Newitt wil ride Spirit Of Soul and General Jackson for Mick Price at Flemington tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Spirit Of Soul returned to the races with an impressive two lengths victory in the Coopers Mild Handicap (1200m) at Sale on November 20 and is rated a good winning chance in the Nowicki Carbone Handicap (1410m) this weekend.

The Danehill Dancer mare was unable to record a race win during her autumn campaign, finishing an unlucky second at Sandown, but Mick Price believes that she has returned as a four-year-old as much stronger and fitter horse.

“It was a good win and she is a better horse than she was last time in,” Price told Racing Ahead.

“I probably persevered a couple of runs too many last time but this time she is a bit more of a robust mare.

“She ran really good time at Sale, 1400 will be good for her and it is a nice restricted conditions race for an $80,000 Saturday race.

“I like her and I like her chances tomorrow.”

General Jackson will have just his second race start for Price in the Lanec Services Handicap (1000m) at Flemington tomorrow after making his Melbourne racing debut with a strong win in the Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge (955m) at Moonee Valley on December 6.

The General Nediym gelding showed plenty of talent when prepared by Mick Mair in Queensland but had a nasty habit of hanging out during his races but Price is confident that the issue will not return in Victoria.

“He has a history of hanging out when he is going the Queensland way of going so they sent him down here,” Price said.

“It was a very well-judged ride at Moonee Valley and he is one of those jockeys that flies the gate.

“I think that it is a race that he can win and he is going well.

“He has the feel of a horse that can go on and win some races this preparation.”

Rounding out Price’s chances at Flemington on Saturday is Stratigraphy who stepped up to a mile for the first time to take out the Wodonga Gold Cup on December 1 after being given a brilliant ride by jockey Craig Newitt.

Stratigraphy will step up in distance again to 1720 metres in the Dorevitch Pathology Handicap and Price admits that the Stratum gelding will need a bit of luck but still rates him a chance to record the first Saturday metropolitan victory of his racing career.

“It is still a restricted conditions race and he is well suited,” Price said.

“I thought that the Wodonga Cup was a pretty substandard field and it was a brilliant ride.

“He is going to have some traffic in front of him but I don’t think that 1700 metres holds any fears for him.

“It looks the right class of race for him.”

Spirit Of Soul is considered Price’s best winning chance at odds of $5.50, while General Jackson is currently priced at $7 and Stratigraphy available at a quote of $9.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.