Staying tests for Price-Kent Jnr pair in 2025 VRC St Leger

Highly Regarded will get his first shot at an extended staying trip on Friday when he steps out in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington.

Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hopeful the progressive colt can rise to the occasion in what will be just his fourth start and his longest distance test to date.

Highly Regarded has yet to finish in the placings, but his most recent fourth over 2050m at Mornington has given the stable reason for optimism.

“He’s an immature type of staying horse. He’s getting there slowly and surely,” said Price.

“I think it is worthwhile having a try at a 2800-metre race. It does get a little bit restricted that race albeit they sometimes back-up into the South Australian Derby.”

The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville remains a possibility for the colt depending on how he handles Friday’s test.

“It’s only a week between those two races now, so he’ll go there to Flemington, and we’ll see how he goes and then make a decision,” Price added.

Meanwhile, stablemate Global Eclipse is another three-year-old who could head to Morphettville after breaking his maiden in a 2025m race at Cranbourne on April 18.

“Ben Melham texted me on Friday night and said to have a think about the South Australian Derby with him,” said Price.

“He’s a real staying type of horse. It was slowly run race that 2025-metre maiden and I see the other 2025-metre maiden that we won there with Hurricane Georgie, was four seconds faster.

“They did walk in Global Eclipse’s race, but Melham obviously liked him.

“He’s a big, long horse, that is quite strong, so he might go over.”