Planet Red, the Caulfield Guineas placegetter, prepares for his seasonal reappearance in a high-class Stakes race at Caulfield.
On Saturday, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) stands as Planet Red’s singular foray before the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington set for February 28.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s charge, a three-year-old gelding, was last seen placing second to Autumn Boy during the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
With three prior Australian Guineas triumphs under his belt, Price admitted Planet Red was drained following his Caulfield Guineas exertions.
“He had five weeks off after the Caulfield Guineas,” Price said.
“When he went into the Caulfield Guineas, he only had a certain amount of energy left in him, but we got it to come together in the last two weeks before that race and he ran super.
“He had five weeks off, but I haven’t got enough horse to do the Space Rider prep.
“Space Rider is going to have three runs into the Australian Guineas, but I’m going to take a punt on Planet Red. He runs in the 1400 metres and then it is three weeks to the Guineas.
“He has improved a little bit as a gelding, but it’s a quick turnaround from the spring.”
Space Rider placed 11th when last facing the Caulfield Guineas field and resumed winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield January 26.
His trajectory leads to the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a week from Saturday.
Price’s Australian Guineas ledger shines with Light Fantastic (2008), Heart Of Dreams (2009), Grunt (2018) victories, plus Tarzino’s near-miss against Palentino in 2016 where the protest failed.
Teaming with Kent Jnr, Price eyes his first joint Guineas score.
“The Australian Guineas has been good to me,” Price said.
“Planet Red will be pretty cherry ripe come the Australian Guineas and I think he’ll run well.”
Those keen on the Autumn Stakes action have plenty of options in the racing betting markets to consider for Planet Red’s performance.
The post Caulfield return for Guineas hope first appeared on Just Horse Racing.