Despite the Ipswich Cup being a viable option and him featuring prominently in the betting, co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have opted for a return trip to Sydney this Saturday for Golden Path.

The six-year-old gelding is nominated for the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill, where he will aim to replicate his 2024 victory in the same event.

“It was too difficult from barrier 15 of 15 in the Ipswich Cup,” Kent Jnr stated.

Golden Path has not secured a win since September of last year, when he claimed an open handicap at Flemington. However, in the eight runs that have followed, he has managed a third-place finish in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and a second in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

“His problem is that he’s earned himself a fairly high rating without winning anything gangbusters,” he elaborated.

“That group one placing in the Underwood, he’s always going to get top weight in these winter handicaps so it does pose some problems because he hasn’t been able to take that next step.

Last start, the gelding led into the straight in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, but was eventually overtaken, finishing fifth.

“He had to do a lot of work in that race, and he still stuck on with it quite bravely so I think if you have a soft draw and a soft run in transit, then he’d go close.

“Though if he was giving weight to a smart, progressive young stayer then they might be hard to hold out.”

Punters looking to back Golden Path in the WJ McKell Cup can find the best odds at leading Australian betting sites.