Mick Price is still undecided on the autumn campaign for Zoustar colt Space Rider, who missed a run in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after being listed as the first emergency and early favourite.
Space Rider impressed with a 3.3-length victory on debut at Eagle Farm but was then beaten at $1.14, leaving betting apps stunned. Price, who trains alongside Michael Kent Jnr, explained the reason behind the letdown.
“His first run was good. His second run, he pulled up a bit of tracheal mucus after the race,” Price said.
“He was the first emergency (for the Magic Millions), but based on how he went at Eagle Farm the next day, he wouldn’t have been too competitive, would he?”
A potential run in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) remains an option, but Price is unsure which race will serve as his lead-up.
“He’s going to be four or five weeks between runs, and I think we will have an entry for the Todman. Two weeks off the Slipper, the Todman, and I think it will be very strong, that race,” Price said.
“I think the better race for him is the Pago Pago, and if he wins that and they want to take a ticket into the Slipper, good. If not, we’ll go to the Sires.”
“I think he’s going to be a better 1,400-metre horse where we can travel, but not to deny anyone their chance of running in the Slipper.”
“Look at the Todman noms, make a decision, but it could be Pago Pago into the Sires.”
Weather conditions could also play a key role in Space Rider’s campaign, considering his strong trial performance on heavy ground in October.
“He’s a good-doing colt, he’s got a good brain on him, he’s easy to train. He’s a nice horse to train. He needs to be sharpened up. If we ran in the Pago Pago, and had a wet week, I would say we’d accept him in the Golden Slipper because he’s a good wet tracker,” Price said.
Banknote Hustler’s Next Steps
Price also provided an update on Capitalist colt Banknote Hustler, who finished sixth on debut in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m), a race where runner-up Beiwacht has since won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1200m).
“Banknote Hustler is going to get blinkers on and probably go to the Black Opal. We ran him in that Lonhro Plate over 1,000 metres and he wasn’t quite quick enough,” Price said.
“I think he’d be a better 1200 horse. He’d be very well suited in the Black Opal because he’ll take a better position.”
Currently, Space Rider is a $101 outsider for the 2025 Golden Slipper and a $26 chance for the Sires Produce Stakes.