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.
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