Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will chase successive Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) victories, pinning their hopes on the lightly raced Sabaj.
The promising four-year-old made an immediate impact for the stable, scoring a 1.8-length benchmark 84 win on Champions Day at Flemington after previously placing at Group 2 level behind stablemate Reserve Bank when trained in Adelaide.
Kent Jnr says Sabaj has the profile to emulate Globe, who won last year’s Cranbourne Cup before progressing to the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) this spring.
“The Cranbourne Cup is the logical race for him,” Kent Jnr said. “A mile, on his doorstep. The timing’s good, our only concern would be the tight track. He’s a get back, run on, big striding horse.”
The stable elected to scratch Sabaj on Melbourne Cup Day before running on Champions Day, a move Kent Jnr believes was vindicated.
“I’m still glad we scratched him on the Tuesday,” he said. “It ended up being a soft five only, but I don’t think we would have won.”
He said the wide draw on Champions Day proved ideal, avoiding the Cup Day traffic pattern.
The Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) was briefly considered after Sabaj’s win but ruled out due to his low ballot order.
Sabaj is among 27 nominations for the $500,000 Cranbourne Cup, with last-start Group 2 winner Warnie the highest-rated entry.