Ayrton back at favourite course in the John Dillon Stakes

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is banking on a return to Caulfield being a winning formula for Ayrton.

The six-year-old runs in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at his favourite track on Friday.

Ayrton has raced at Caulfield on six occasions, registering five wins, four of which have been over Friday’s journey.

The only time Ayrton has faced defeat at Caulfield was in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on November 18 after which he headed to Perth where he finished 11th to Munhamek in the Group 3 Damien Oliver Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 16.

“He had a luckless trip to Perth,” Kent Jnr said.

“He loves the 1400 metres at Caulfield where he is virtually unbeaten but for a luckless run in the Sir Rupert Clarke last year and he seems to be in good order for Friday’s contest.”

Jamie Kah, who has ridden Ayrton in three of his five Caulfield wins, returns to the saddle on Friday for the first time since running second to I Wish I Win in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes at Sandown in September 2022.

Kent Jnr is looking forward to the debut of I Am Invincible colt Let’sfacethemusic in the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings on Friday.

Let’sfacethemusic had a jump-out on the inner Heath track at Caulfield on January 16 and Kent Jnr expects the main Caulfield track to suit the colt on Friday.

“He trialled quite well from an outside barrier and sat five deep,” Kent Jnr said.

“It looked to me the way the four jump-outs played out, it was an advantage to be up near the lead and on the fence, but he still worked home nicely.

“We quite like him, so we’ll find out more on Friday.”