The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is weighing up the pros and cons of a Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) start for Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo).
If it is decided the Caulfield Cup is the race for Golden Path, then Saturday’s Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) will be the next step towards the 2400m feature on October 18.
“It is still to be confirmed but he’ll have a nomination in the Turnbull,” Kent Jnr said.
“We’ve had some lengthy discussions with the ownership group, and we might have a throw at the Caulfield Cup.
“If we are going that way, and I think we are, then the Turnbull is the likely lead in.”
Golden Path has had three runs back from a break.
He finished third first-up over 1600m at Caulfield on August 16, lumped 61kg to victory at Flemington over 1700m on September 13 then backed up a week later to finish third, beaten less than half-a-length in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
In Price and Kent Jnr’s eyes, that was a career high.
“Our opinion is he’s probably a couple of lengths shy of the best horses in these weight-for-age races over 2000 (metres) and his chance of winning a big race is in a handicap like the Caulfield Cup,” Kent Jnr said.
“We think he’s in the race, which is a start, he’s got 54-½ kilos, so he’s in with a reasonable weight.
“My personal gut feel is that he’ll enjoy 2400 (metres). It’s a bit of a gamble as he’s never been past 2000 metres, but I think it’s the right time to take that gamble.
“It’s a $5 million punt and the way he can sustain a gallop over 2000 (metres), I’d be hopeful he would enjoy 2400 (metres).
“He’s got a great racing style that suits Caulfield and he’s a horse in really good form.
“We may not get the same opportunity next year.”
Kent Jnr said Golden Path needs another run before the Caulfield Cup and the Turnbull Stakes is the favoured option.
While the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 had been discussed, it is felt backing up within a week twice in the campaign would be too arduous.
Golden Path has improved with age, but Price and Kent Jnr are also realistic.
“The winter in Sydney last year was when he found his best form,” Kent Jnr said.
“The autumn in Sydney this year, we were forced into those better Group 1’s and he was three-to-five lengths short of them, and we were running against the country’s best horses, and he wasn’t up to them at those distances.
“It was nice to get him back winning in a handicap at Flemington.
“I think he ran well to show us he’s in career best form and it makes a lot of sense in my opinion to have a go at the Caulfield Cup under handicap conditions.
“It’s not an easy race but I think he’s the right horse and the market will tell you that he’s somewhere in the race.”
Bred by the Wallace family’s Ardsley Stud, Golden Path was purchased for $35,000 from the 2021 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sale by Pukekohe trainer Michael Rogers. After winning two of his three trials in New Zealand for Rogers, Golden Path was sold to clients of the Price-Kent team.