Canterbury preview: Luke Price wants a soft option for Mogwai
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Co-trainer Luke Price feels Mogwai has found himself in the right race to kick off his latest campaign but hopes the track improves back into the soft range.
Despite Mogwai having a heavy track win to his credit, Price believes a soft track is ideal for the former Godolphin gelding.
'While he has won on a heavy track once before, he is a horse whose best form is on Good 4 to Soft 6,' said Price, who trains in partnership with his father, Robert.
The son of Epaulette made his way to the Price's Kembla base late last year when purchased on Inglis Digital for $75,000.
He kicked off for his new trainers in the best possible fashion with an all-the-way win from Tartana and So Good So Cool at Kembla on December 28.
He then stepped straight to Saturday city grade when a neck third behind Zondee at Rosehill on January 18 before two unplaced runs.
'He did a good job last campaign after a long time off,' Price said.
'He scored a nice win first-up albeit in a provincial race on his home track but he did carry a big weight.
'He went great at his next start in city grade when he ran third.
'I think he's a horse who likes to stride along. He doesn't like being held up which happened at his last run.'
The four-year-old is leading contender in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) first-up provided the track improves.
'He is coming up really well, I like Tommy Berry on him and I don't mind the barrier. It gives him room to stride along where he is comfortable,' he said.
'If he lobs outside the leader, he can run a very cheeky race.'
Price believes Canterbury is the ideal track for Invade And Conquer who likes to control things in front.
Like Mogwai, Price said the track condition is all important to the gelding who was unplaced in both runs on heavy ground.
'He's honest but he just needs a Soft 5 track at worst,' he said.
'I'm not sure if he will go around this week. We will just see how the track comes up on race morning.'
The four-year-old was a dominant winner on his home track back on March 22 before a wide run when eighth at Hawkesbury followed by a fourth at Kembla.
He led and give a good kick on straightening at Kembla last start before being caught on the post by Hyperbolic.
From barrier 3, he would be a good chance in the Benchmark 72 (1550m) with Rachel King aboard.
'He was brave the other day. He just didn't see the horse come down the outside,' said Price.
'He's drawn well and has a good jockey on in Rachel who rates them very well in front.'
The Price's other runner for the day is Miss Hvar in the Benchmark 72 (1550m) for fillies and mares.
The daughter of Ocean Park debuted with a strong closing run from well back to grab Kuwait on the line at Kembla on April 19 before jumping up to a Benchmark 68 when fourth to Hyperbolic on May 10.
'I thought she ran really well the other day in a slowly run race that was dominated by the on speed horses,' Price said.
'She had to make a sustained run from near last and the track was starting to get a doughy for her.
'She has a good rider on in Tyler Schiller, has no weight and will go back any way so the barrier is not a huge concern.
'Like the other two, I just hope the track dries up a bit.'
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Connections of Gunroom are banking on three key factors in the gelding's bid to break through for his first win.
After leading at Warwick Farm last start, Gunroom looked home before being caught late be the flying Hopper.
The son of Snitzel, who hails from the family of eight-time Group 1 winner Apache Cat, will give his rivals something to catch in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m).
'I thought he had the race won last start hence why we have opted to claim this week and the blinkers go on,' said Ben Vassallo, racing manager for B K Racing and Breeding.
'Also, getting him around a tighter circumference track that is rain affected as well as two kilo claim with Braith Nock.
'I think those factors can have him in a good position to break his maiden this week.'
The Joe Pride-trained three-year-old was actually first past the post on debut at Hawkesbury last October before losing the race on protest to Lady Zodiac followed by a third at Wyong.
This campaign, Gunroom resumed with a sixth at Hawkesbury before second placings to Maori Chief and Hopper in Super Maidens at Kensington and Warwick Farm taking his overall record to four placings from six starts.
'He hasn't been disappointing. It's just been frustrating to be so close to be honest,' Vassallo said.
'The jockey was soft on him late. It probably would have helped us in the (stewards) room if he pushed him out.
'Since then, he has had some good runs but some frustrating seconds.
'His pedigree says he will be better over further but we just want to win that maiden and then we can look to step him up in trip next preparation to 1400m or a mile.'
B K Racing and Breeding also have Long Legs making her debut in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) for two-year-old fillies.
The Gary Portelli-trained daughter of Russian Revolution have been very good in both barrier trials on wet ground with Andrew Calder aboard who sticks with her.
'She is a beautiful filly. She is probably more of a three-year-old type than a two-year-old but we are late in the season now,' Vassallo said.
'She has thrived off everything we have asked of her.
'She has had a couple of weeks to prepare for this off that second trial.
'I expect her to run right up to her trials especially with the sting out of the ground.'
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