First Settler on trial for spring racing carnival sprints

Stakes races down the straight at Flemington in the spring are on the agenda for impressive debut winner First Settler.

As part of the learning curve towards those contests, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained two-year-old will tackle the VRC Member Russell Dawson Plate (1000m) on Saturday.

The Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) in September followed by the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) are the contests Price and Kent Jnr have in mind for First Settler.

The colt made a winning debut at Caulfield on June 29 after having a delayed start to his career.

First Settler was down to run at Caulfield last October, but got a leg caught up on the ledge in the barriers and had to be scratched.

Price said the resulting fallout from that was the colt needed surgery for a minor knee chip, but the trainer was impressed with what he saw from First Settler in his debut win.

“He won well, and he does have a turn of foot,” Price said.

“I’ve kept him fresh for the 1000 metres, even though I think he will be a lovely 1200-metre horse.

“He’s a big strong colt that is in good shape and has trained on and hopefully he wins again and then he can have a little breather.

“It will be good practise for him down the straight, because he can then go to the Poseidon, the Danehill and the Coolmore.

“I’m going to keep him sprinting and I think 1200 metres will be ideal for him, a big strong Written Tycoon colt.

“He relaxes and has a turn of foot, so I’m pretty happy with him.”

Michael Dee, who rode First Settler to victory at Caulfield again has the mount on Saturday, and the colt is the $2.15 favourite in early betting.

“I think greenness down the straight will be the only thing that will beat him,” Price said.