Space Rider looking to bounce back in the 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Space Rider burst onto the scene with a strong first-up win at Moonee Valley, prompting high hopes from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable.
However, his return to the track in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on September 6 saw him fade badly to finish second last, leaving connections puzzled.
On Saturday, the colt will stretch out to 1400 metres in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield in a bid to prove himself once again.
Price said the outing would be decisive in determining whether Space Rider continues towards the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 or is redirected.
“He is coming off a poor run where I don’t have a reason for his poor run,” Price said.
“He worked good on Saturday morning and I don’t want to say he’s fighting for his manhood, but they’ve got to be genuine, don’t they?
“We’ll try him at 1400 metres. He’s going well in trackwork, but if he doesn’t fire at 1400 metres we won’t be going towards the Guineas, and we might have to freshen him up and try something else.
“I just thought that run the other day at The Valley, it was the run of a colt who was close to their top in the first half of the race, and Michael Dee said the alarm bells were ringing at the 600 metres, which isn’t good.”
Blake Shinn will be aboard Space Rider this weekend, his third different jockey in three runs.
The stable will also pin hopes on Planet Red, who is also nominated for the Guineas. He won first-up at Sandown on August 13 before closing late to finish fourth behind Rosberg at The Valley on September 6, with Mark Zahra booked again.
“He’s going good, and his Valley run was good,” Price said.
“Mark Zahra was happy, we were happy, the horse is going well.
“He’s an immature three-year-old but so are a lot of them. He’ll be suited over 1400 metres and he will be again over the mile.
“His sire was a champion miler and that will be him if he holds his body weight, but the Caulfield Guineas will be hard because you then get the Golden Rose form coming down.”
Those interested in betting on Space Rider or Planet Red in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude can check the latest prices at Australia’s leading betting sites.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...