Randwick races an option for La Fracas

Trainer Mick Price is leaning toward sending in-form sprinter La Fracas to Randwick this Saturday, with wet conditions in Sydney appearing favourable and a successful clockwise gallop tipping the scales in that direction.

Entered for 1200m benchmark races in both Melbourne and Sydney, Price — who trains alongside Michael Kent Jnr — said he would review final acceptances before confirming plans for the progressive gelding.

La Fracas is undefeated this campaign, stringing together three consecutive victories at the 1200m trip, including dominant efforts on heavy tracks and a late-finishing win at Flemington last time out.

On Saturday, stable apprentice Olivia East piloted La Fracas in a reverse-way gallop to prepare him for the right-handed Randwick circuit, which Price said he handled impressively.

“He’s nominated for Randwick and had a Sydney-direction gallop because he handles the wet, and it’s been pouring in Sydney,” Price said. “He looked great doing it.”

East, who recently resumed riding after a broken collarbone, said La Fracas gave her a great feel during the gallop.

“He was super in his work — very sharp and professional,” she said.

Price briefly considered targeting the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield next week, but discussions with Blake Shinn about the calibre of expected rivals led him to reconsider.

“I thought about the Regal Roller but Blake said there are some top-end horses lining up there, so we may steer away from that,” Price said.

Despite having gone to 1600m last prep, La Fracas has been kept to sprint trips this time, with Price cautious about the tight turns of Moonee Valley if drawn awkwardly.

“We’ll accept in both and then decide,” he said. “If he draws in at the Valley, it might not suit because he’s more of a horse that likes to build through his gears.”

The 83-rated gelding has top weight of 62.5kg in the Randwick benchmark 78 and is allotted 59.5kg for Moonee Valley’s benchmark 84 event.