Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s stable might have opted for the easier route with two of their returning horses at Caulfield.
The Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, a benchmark 100 event, could have been a suitable starting point for Sabaj and Planet Red.
This was the race Sepals secured last year before going on to claim the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield three weeks later.
Given the 15 runners in the Evergreen, Price and Kent Jnr decided that the smaller field in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday would instead serve as the launching pad for the pair, though Price admitted a victory would be unexpected.
The Memsie Stakes features a field of 12, notably including Group 1 victors Mr Brightside, Jimmysstar, Tom Kitten, Buckaroo, Birdman, Autumn Boy, Beiwacht, and Treasurethe Moment. Also in contention is Group 1 hopeful Angel Capital and the prominent Perth galloper Cosmic Crusader, who boasts an undefeated record in two starts under his new trainer Andrea Leek.
Sabaj and Planet Red are both resuming, and Price confirmed Jamie Melham and Blake Shinn were booked for the rides, with the intention always being to commence their campaigns in the Memsie.
Shinn guided Planet Red in a recent Pakenham jump-out on August 11, finishing behind Sheza Alibi, while Sabaj finished just ahead of his stablemate in the same trial.
“They’re both going well but I don’t expect either of them to win, I suppose,” Price stated.
“Sabaj is a Cranbourne Cup winner who has a nice race in him while Planet Red is a three-year-old going into his four-year-old year.
“I think they’ll both be suited in mile handicaps, like the Toorak and those sorts of races.”
Operating from their Rosehill base in Sydney, Price indicated that both Sabaj and Planet Red might eventually be directed north for the latter stages of the spring racing season.
“The five-year-old Sabaj, might be headed to the Five Diamonds, the 1800 (metres) might be good and I think the Golden Eagle is a very hard race to win now because it’s 1500 (metres),” Price commented.
“That’s a fast mile race, but he’ll be there to win the right races.”
Price and Kent Jnr are familiar with winning the $10 million Golden Eagle, having achieved this feat in 2021 with I’m Thunderstruck.
The Golden Eagle is scheduled for October 31, with the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill following the next week.
Punters looking to get involved can explore the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.