Fitness a plus in the Vain Stakes

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are banking on race fitness over quality in their search of a stakes race win at Caulfield.

Price and Kent Jnr will saddle Ouroboros in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday where the colt will run against six opponents.

Of the seven runners, Ouroboros is the only one not coming off a break.

Ouroboros has had three starts this preparation, registering two thirds and a victory.

He started his campaign with a trip to Adelaide, finishing third at Morphettville before again running third over 1000m at Flemington on July 15.

Ouroboros was back a week later to defeat Wolfy at Caulfield over 1200m.

While that form has not stood up to date, Ouroboros was strong to the line after racing on the speed, but on Saturday he is pitted against Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose and Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder.

“He’s probably not the class runner in the race yet, but he’s rock-hard fit, and he’s going particularly well,” Kent Jnr said.

“There are two very good colts in there that are first-up, plus another couple that are first-up as well.

“It always changes at this time of the year. You never know what two-year-olds improve as three-year-olds and which ones go backwards.

“It can change very quick, but all that I know is that our colt is in great form, and he’ll run very well.”

While it will be four weeks since Ouroboros last raced, the colt has been given some solid work to keep his fitness levels up.

Ouroboros galloped with unbeaten stablemate What You Need at Sandown last week, a gallop that pleased his trainers, while he produced another nice piece of work at Cranbourne on Tuesday.

“His gallop on Tuesday was sensational and it looks like he’ll get a nice run in front on Saturday,” Kent Jnr said.

“Given that, he’ll be a top three chance.”