Trainer Mick Price believes that lightly-raced mare Samaready has her her best chance to add another Group 1 win to her racing resume when she contests the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Samaready will return to Group 1 level in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Samaready returned to the races for the first time in over a year with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 31 and did enough to convince Price that she was ready for the step back-up to Group 1 level.
The veteran trainer told RSN that the daughter of More Than Ready is in brilliant condition and believes she will never have a better opportunity to win a Group 1 event against some of the leading sprinters in Australia.
“I probably should have run her in the mares race here on Saturday, where she would have had 59 on a 55 minimum with the set weight and penalties, but I just thought that she has won a Group 1 and I don’t like to take a backward step on them,” Price said.
“She won here (at Caulfield) in a form race which you wouldn’t put in Group 1 but she still felt it.
“She had a long time out and we were gentle with her.
“I was wrapped that she hit the line and physically she is in good order.
“She is peaky, on the rise and looks fantastic.
“I couldn’t have her in any better order and if she is going to go and beat Bel Sprinter and those sorts of horses Friday will be the night.”
Samaready will be having her first race start at Moonee Valley but Price does not think the tight-turning track will worry the four-year-old and was impressed with her work at the venue on Monday.
“I think Moonee Valley will suit her,” Price said.
“She went there Monday and worked super; the only horse that worked a bit better than her was Epaulette.
“She is bomb proof and she will handle the Valley, she just has to be good enough on the night.”
Samaready was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) that were released by Racing Victoria yesterday and Price confirmed that the 2012 Blue Diamond winner would push on to the $1 million race at Moonee Valley on October 25 if she performs up to expectations on Friday.
“The straight concerns me with her for some reason but if she goes well on Friday night we would be redoing her for the Manikato,” the Caulfield-based trainer said.
Samaready will be joined in the Moir Stakes field by stablemate Le Bonsir.
