Samready will line up in William Reid Stakes

Caulfield trainer Mick Price has given his star mare Samaready the all clear to line up in the Group 1 $400,000 Hacer Group William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Samaready is going back to Moonee Valley where she won the G1 Moir Stakes, above.

Samaready is going back to Moonee Valley where she won the G1 Moir Stakes, above. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Price can’t fault Samaready after a disappointing performance in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8 when sixth to stablemate Lankan Rupee and says she is in perfect condition.

“She’s perfect so she’ll go around and then probably go to Sydney,” Price told AAP.

“She worked over 1000 metres on Saturday morning and worked well. The last furlong (200m) of her work was good and she pulled up good in the wind. All is well there.”

Samaready is returning to Moonee Valley, the scene of one of her biggest wins and Price is hoping familiar surrounding will restore some confidence back into the Group 1 winning mare.

“She has won at the course and distance in a Group One. She’ll go all right,” Price said.

Samaready has been struggling to regain the form that saw her win the Group 1 $450,000 Programmed Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley during the Spring although she ran a respectable race when third to Snitzerland in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.

Price and regular rider Craig Newitt were both concerned that she had a recurrence of a lung problem after the Newmarket Handicap run but scans have cleared her of any injuries.

“There’s nothing wrong with her. She scoped up clean and she’s sound. She couldn’t go any quicker,” Price said.

Newitt will stick with Samaready in the William Reid Stakes while Price could have two runners with last start Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Jazz Song also in the nominations which have been extended until 10AM on Tuesday after only thirteen horses were entered.

Queensland sprinter Spirit Of Boom is looking to crack his first Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes after being runner-up to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and the Newmarket Handicap.

Spirit Of Boom has also recorded two third placings from his fourteen Group 1 appearances and is certainly overdue to breakthrough at the highest level.

2013 Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress is also among the nominations and has not been far off the pace this campaign with a second in the Black Caviar Lightning and a third in this year’s Newmarket Handicap.

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.