The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr team has opted for the uncommon choice of providing On Display with a showcase gallop at Caulfield Heath ahead of her comeback appearance.
On Display is set for her initial run back in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Price noted that galloping on the Wednesday before the subsequent Saturday’s races isn’t out of the ordinary, yet transporting the mare to a weekday urban fixture just three days before her reappearance was viewed as unconventional.
The joint trainer noted that On Display is holding significant condition and stands to gain immensely from the excursion beyond Cranbourne.
“I would gallop, at home, on a Wednesday, no trouble, but she has plenty of condition on her and after that she should be pretty right for Saturday,” Price said.
“She came into us and has been there at Cranbourne the whole time, and there was the opportunity to stimulate her, and adrenalise her, by bringing her here which was fantastic.
“It just sparks her ahead of Saturday and it was exactly what I wanted, along with a gallop on a beautiful surface.”
On Display is due for her initial outing this Saturday following a third-place effort in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during last spring.
Prominent owner of On Display, Seamus Mills, indicated that the mare’s schedule hinges on her showing in the following start.
Intentions include entering On Display in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on March 21, followed by the Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on April 11.
“If she wins the Sunline, she may get weighted out of her next start, the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield, a Listed race against the boys,” Mills said.
“Then the plan is to go back to Adelaide for the race she should have won last year, the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (on April 25).
“But if she wins the Sunline, then we’ll probably have to readjust that program.”
Ben Melham, who rode On Display during Wednesday’s workout, retains the mount for Saturday.
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