Sabaj announced himself as a potential force for the autumn carnival after registering his first Stakes victory for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr team.
His win also provided Mick Price with a fourth triumph in the Listed Cranbourne Cup, with the stable already looking ahead to what the gelding may produce later in the season following his strong 1600m performance.
Price and Kent Jnr had initially been unsure whether Sabaj would even make the field, and then wary of the barrier draw, but their concerns eased quickly thanks to a faultless ride from Beau Mertens.
Backed into $3.30 favouritism, Sabaj proved superior, defeating Enxuto ($6.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Holyman ($16) a further half-head away in third.
The victory continued the stable’s Cranbourne Cup success after Globe captured the race last year before progressing to win the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) in the spring.
Price revealed the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April looms as a major target.
“I have to do my sums, but I can imagine him with a light weight and on a big track,” Price said.
“I know he handled the wet in the carnival, so the Doncaster is certainly a race you’d put a circle around.
“Light weight, big track, that’s him. He got himself out of jail here on this track, but the one good thing about being here is there’s a long 900-metre run so you are not jerking him around.
“He was off the fence, well balanced and he finished off strongly.
“I will put a circle around the Doncaster if I can because I don’t think he’s bottomed out, so if I spell him now, I’ll have a lovely horse in the autumn, which is very close.”
Previously trained in Adelaide by Richard and Chantelle Jolly, Sabaj was only having his third start for Price and Kent Jnr, with the stable still learning about him.
“He is sort of a brand-new horse,” Price said.
“He’s perfectly sound, feet, knees, fetlock, lovely. He’s lightly raced, good ability. He’s clean winded and I think if we look after him, he will be fine.
“I’m not saying he’s a tough horse, that’s not how we treat him, but I think we’re gelling with him and if we treat him right, we can have a lovely horse in the autumn and we can chase a good race.”
While Price celebrated his fourth Cranbourne Cup win, Beau Mertens savoured his first, and the milestone was emotional given his history at the track.
“It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think it would hit me as hard as it has,” Mertens said.
“I was apprenticed to Michael Kent here throughout my years at Cranbourne and now I have an association with Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr.
“Mick Price has been a big part of my career for a very long time, and we’ve had a great connection and a great association.
“It’s fantastic to deliver in such a fantastic race.”
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