Trainer Mick Price stepped back into his pre-training role by handling the parade duties for The Speed Machine at Mornington.

The two-year-old gelding, prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, proved difficult during saddling, prompting Price to manage the strapping himself ahead of the Mornington Sires (1000m) on Saturday.

The strategy paid off as The Speed Machine ($3) bolted straight to the lead with Thomas Stockdale aboard, securing a half-neck victory over the $2.50 favourite Luna Vega, while Zynaro ($11) finished 2-½ lengths back in third.

Price explained that The Speed Machine dons red earmuffs during the pre-race parade, which are removed from his gear at the barriers.

However, Price thought the gelding seemed drowsy, leading him to take off the headgear once saddling was complete.

“His father (Hanseatic) used to have a bit of feist about him,” Price said.

“His father used to always have two strappers on him, and I did take the red earmuffs off him while we were saddling him up, because I thought he was half asleep.

“But I found out the wrong way. He was not asleep and I had to do my own work.”

The Speed Machine remains undefeated after two starts, having previously won over 1000m in a four-horse affair on debut at Morphettville Parks last month.

Price is confident the gelding is not limited to 1000m and anticipates he will handle 1200m in time.

The Speed Machine races in the silks of Kempinsky, who triumphed in The Vase at Moonee Valley and was runner-up in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington in 2003.

“We’ve had horses together for 30 years, but we haven’t had a lot of starters over that time,” Price said.

“He buys them, I move them on, but this one, he’s a keeper.

“He a fast horse, and he’s a strong horse, and he’s very sound, an easy horse to train.”

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