The stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr has gone with an unconventional tactic, allowing On Display a display gallop at Caulfield Heath to prepare for her re-entry to racing.
On Display prepares for her opening run of the campaign in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Price commented that a Wednesday gallop before Saturday’s events is commonplace, although bringing the mare to a Wednesday city race meet three days before her comeback was deemed unusual.
The co-trainer detailed how On Display is packed with condition and will derive major benefits from the journey from Cranbourne.
“I would gallop, at home, on a Wednesday, no trouble, but she has plenty of condition on her and after that she should be pretty right for Saturday,” Price said.
“She came into us and has been there at Cranbourne the whole time, and there was the opportunity to stimulate her, and adrenalise her, by bringing her here which was fantastic.
“It just sparks her ahead of Saturday and it was exactly what I wanted, along with a gallop on a beautiful surface.”
On Display faces her first race on Saturday since placing third in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last spring.
Seamus Mills, major stakeholder in On Display, stated the mare’s itinerary depends on her effort at the next appearance.
Projections call for On Display to contest the Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on March 21 before tackling the Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on April 11.
“If she wins the Sunline, she may get weighted out of her next start, the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield, a Listed race against the boys,” Mills said.
“Then the plan is to go back to Adelaide for the race she should have won last year, the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (on April 25).
“But if she wins the Sunline, then we’ll probably have to readjust that program.”
Ben Melham, who guided On Display in Wednesday’s session, holds the ride for Saturday.
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