Ayrton will be given the opportunity to settle into new surrounds in Brisbane before his next assignment in the Fred Best Classic.

Mick Price hopes to have what he describes as potentially the best horse he has trained in Brisbane on Tuesday night to prepare for his next assignment.

Unbeaten in three starts, Ayrton is being aimed at the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week with a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at that track pending his Brisbane debut.

Success in the Fred Best provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Stradbroke.

Ayrton shot to prominence during a summer campaign with wins at Bendigo and Caulfield before resuming over 1200m at Caulfield on May 8.

In a touch of arrogance, Ayrton was eased down by Jamie Kah in recording a 1-¼ length win that day in what Price, who trains the three-year-old in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, said was short of his best distance.

“Hopefully he lands up there on Tuesday night which is about a week-and-a-half before the race,” Price said.

“He worked the reverse way at Caulfield on Saturday morning with Craig Newitt on board and he was good in that piece of work and at this stage he’ll do that again on Tuesday.

“He won’t do anything too strenuous and then he’ll fly up and get settled in at Eagle Farm.

“He’s going to the Fred Best and then we’ll see what happens after that.”

Price said Ayrton came through his first-up run in excellent order.

“He was good on Sunday morning after the race and he’s been good since,” Price said.

“He’s been eating up and has done well, so I’m pretty happy.”

Melbourne’s leading rider Jamie Kah, who rode a winner in Adelaide on Saturday, will ride Ayrton in the Fred Best while a new rider is expected for the Stradbroke.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au