Planet Red aims to reverse Guineas fortunes

Mick Price, the trainer, acknowledges the difficulty in reversing the result against Observer from their last encounter in the upcoming Australian Guineas.

Nevertheless, this doesn't deter Price from pursuing his fourth triumph in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) scheduled for Flemington on Saturday.

"He's a nice, uncomplicated gelding and he'll show up, but everything will have to go right for us to turn it around on Observer," Price said.

"My opinion is no I can't (beat Observer) but that is not how we're training him. My opinion is Observer is the clear good horse, and we are there to do our best."

Past successes for Price in the Australian Guineas include Light Fantastic (2008) and Heart Of Dreams (2009), alongside Grunt's win in 2018.

Additionally, Tarzino secured a second placing for him in 2016, trailing Palentino.

Planet Red, prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, has clashed with Observer on three occasions, finishing ahead on two.

In their debut matchup, Planet Red defeated Observer in a Pakenham maiden last May, with their next meeting occurring in the Caulfield Guineas, Planet Red second and Observer third after some misfortune.

Subsequently, Observer triumphed in the Moonee Valley Vase and Group 1 Victoria Derby, before annexing the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield February 7, where Planet Red closed from the rear for second.

On that occasion, Planet Red had 2kg in allowances from Observer, yet they meet equally weighted on Saturday.

"I'm not sure how we beat Observer," Price said.

"We rode our horse cold first-up and I thought it was a very good run, a long-sustained run.

"He's going well and hopefully he can take up a more forward position in the race.

"He's had a good prep for the race, he's sound, he's got good condition on him, and I've got enough horse to go to Sydney for something afterwards, but I haven't worked that out yet."

While Price has left open a potential entry into the Group 1 Randwick Guineas the following Saturday, he views it as unlikely.

He notes the precedent set by Global Glamour, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who won Group 1s a week apart interstate.

"Normally seven days after a Group 1 here and then a trip up to Sydney would be too close, but Gai did it one year from the Flight to the Thousand Guineas, so anything is possible," Price said.

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