Trainer Mick Price acknowledges that Sabaj and Planet Red require optimal conditions to succeed in this Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but he is implementing strategies to maximise their chances.
The Cranbourne-based trainer, who collaborates with Michael Kent Jnr, has focused on maintaining their sharpness for the $1 million event contested over 1400 metres.
While both horses have more significant targets over longer distances later in the spring carnival, Price has modified their training regimen ahead of their second-up performances and is pleased with their response.
‘I cut their work down to half-mile (800m), home ‘three’ (600m) on the grass and they were both perky,’ Price stated regarding their trackwork on Saturday morning.
‘Both of those horses, their best distance is 1600 and we’re trying to win a 1400-metre race with them, so I need them jumping up and down a little bit.
‘They’re nice and fresh and they should show up at the end of 1400.’
Planet Red and Sabaj both commenced their campaigns in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29, securing seventh and last place respectively in the twelve-runner field claimed by Beiwacht.
For Planet Red, this marked the beginning of a campaign targeting the $10 million Group 1 Golden Eagle (1400m) on October 31, while Sabaj’s primary objective is the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) a week later.
Both are slated to proceed to those races via the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on October 10, and Price indicated that this weekend’s race serves as the ideal stepping stone to that event.
‘That (1400m) is not their ideal distance in a Group 1 handicap on top of the ground where they might run 1:22-something if it’s a good-run race,’ Price commented. ‘But this is the race we want to use to go to the Toorak and they’re both going well.’
Planet Red and Sabaj are among 24 nominations for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, which is also anticipated to feature Lady Shenandoah, Sepals, and Angel Capital.
This event is one of two $1 million Group 1 races scheduled for Caulfield this Saturday, alongside the Underwood Stakes (1800m), which has attracted 15 nominations including Cosmic Crusader, Aeliana, Birdman, Buckaroo, and Lindermann.
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