Space Rider aims to bolster his Australian Guineas prospects during his Flemington appearance.

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s charge lines up in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, acting as the ideal forerunner to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight hence.

By performing well, Space Rider could join Planet Red in the Australian Guineas lineup, building on the stablemate’s strong second to Observer in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) conducted at Caulfield last Saturday.

Ethan Brown, victor with Observer in that race, retains the partnership with Space Rider after piloting the three-year-old to his fresh victory in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on January 24.

“It was a big win first-up. He sat three-wide, no cover,” Kent Jnr said.

“He was there to be challenged but fought all of them off, but it’s going to get harder from here on in, however Ethan Brown sticks.

“The colt of Chris Waller, Sixties, will be hard to beat. It looks to have come back really well, but our guy is a lovely big moving horse that is really going to love Flemington.”

Though Space Rider’s trio of wins have all been achieved first-up, Kent Jnr anticipates the generous Flemington track will suit the colt ideally for this Saturday’s second-up run over the tighter turns he has faced before.

Kent Jnr approved of Planet Red’s return to racing at Caulfield last week.

Spring Caulfield Guineas runner-up—a race in which Space Rider was 11th—Planet Red flew home late under Jamie Kah’s urgings last Saturday.

“If he had drawn a softer gate, he lands a pair or two closer and it might have been interesting,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s going to strip fitter from that run and we’re looking forward to the Australian Guineas.”

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The post Space Rider on Australian Guineas path first appeared on Just Horse Racing.