2024 spring carnival trainer preview: Mick Price discusses key targets for stable stars

Mick Price provides an update on the stable’s top horses and potential spring targets, including Warmonger, Vibrant Sun and First Settler.

Trainer Mick Price provides an update on the stable’s top horses and potential targets for the spring carnival.

MORE SPRING PREVIEWS

• Joe Pride/Trent Busuttin/Les Bridge

• Bjorn Baker/Clayton Douglas/Ken Kelso

WARMONGER

Mick Price: “I’ve had two vastly different opinions of that Queensland Derby. One is saying superstar rating, and one is saying he ran a second and a half slower than Hezashocka, so how do you rate that race? What I do know is he’s a nice staying type of Kiwi that is still lightly raced. He’ll be entered for the Cups. He had about a month off and went into pre-training last week. I’ve just got to play it by ear. There’s certainly a big circle around the Caulfield Cup.”

Possible target races: Makybe Diva Stakes (September 14), Turnbull Stakes (October 5)

Grand Final: Caulfield Cup (October 19) and possibly the Melbourne Cup (November 5)

An act of war!

Warmonger absolutely destroys them in the G1 Queensland Derby! @BrisRacingClub@MickPriceRacing@MichaelRhysKent@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/NpGwFja9Xq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024

VIBRANT SUN

Mick Price: “The Empire Rose and the Golden Eagle are on the same day so we have to make a decision. Do we chase the $10 million or the Group 1 win? One is 1500m around Rosehill where you require a turn of foot, and the other is a mile at Flemington where she’d be beautifully suited. While she has got 2000m, I think a mile is a brilliant distance for her, kept fresh. I think the Empire Rose is the absolute crack race for her, but I understand having an attempt at the $10 million race for four-year-olds. We’ll decide which way she goes later in the spring. I haven’t got a kick off race for her yet but she’ll be busy in September.”

Possible target races: Still to be decided.

Grand Final: Empire Rose Stakes or Golden Eagle (November 2)

VIBRANT SUN HOLDS ON! 🌞

IT'S ZAHRA, PRICE & KENT IN THE OAKS!@MickPriceRacing@[e-mail]/Av4Zjdy9ck

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 27, 2024

FIRST SETTLER

Mick Price: “He’s either going to have two or three runs (into a Coolmore), the three runs would be the Poseidon, the Danehill and the Coolmore. I was very keen to run him down the straight (last Saturday) to give him a feel for that and he can have a little breather now. Some handle it (straight) well and some don’t handle it at all, for whatever reason, that’s why I was keen to see him today to tick that one off. Whether we use two runs to go in, or one, see how he pulls up and make a decision based on that. My feeling is maybe he’s better off two runs but we’ll find out. He’s a big solid bodied horse so I wouldn’t want to give him too long off and get him too robust, but he’s a beautiful temperament and I thought he was there to be beaten today, the second horse is handy and he was there to be beaten, I thought it was gutsy. I think he’ll be better at 1200m.”

Possible target races: Poseidon Stakes (September 14), Danehill Stakes (October 5)

Grand Final: Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (November 2)

First Settler stays undefeated to start its career! ⭐

Michael Dee for @MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/mlI2Hr1TY0

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 20, 2024

BUSTLING

Mick Price: “He’s a very sound, clean winded and uncomplicated gelding. He’s got good length about him, a good attitude, a good appetite and he’s drama free. I’m not sure how we get to The Everest but being a gelding there’s no pressure to run him in a race like the Golden Rose. His full program is yet to be determined. I’d expect him to trial in about three weeks.”

Possible target races: His full program is yet to be determined

Grand Final: The Everest (October 19) and see what happens after that.

Bustling leads and wins the G2 Karrakatta Plate easily for @MortonRacing and @blake_shinn!@PerthRacingpic.twitter.com/mPzDiTg9pr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024

KITTY ROSE

Mick Price: “She’s having a run in a Group 2 at Deauville in France and then she will come out here. I think the Golden Eagle might be a bit slick for her. She’s a big strong filly and I think she might be better suited to the Empire Rose. She’s a strong miler and if she does well, I think the Empire Rose might be the right race. We’ll assess her when she lands here.”

Possible target races: Empire Rose Stakes or Golden Eagle (November 2)

Grand Final: Empire Rose Stakes or Golden Eagle (November 2)

Kitty Rose lands the Irish Champions Festival opener!

It's a first Listed success for rising trainer Natalia Lupini and what a time to get it, success here in the @BallylinchStud@IrishEBF_ Ingabelle Stakes at @LeopardstownRC 👏 @wjlee24786pic.twitter.com/1FzgqiDexe

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023

AMENABLE

Mick Price: “I think the new gelded version would be suited to the Five Diamonds. I’ve always considered that a mile is big for him but if you’re going to stretch him to 1800m then Rosehill is the track to try it. He’s got quite a high rating, but he’s proven himself at weight-for-age and he handles it wet. I’d say you’ll see him back in action late September.

Possible target races: Still to be decided.”

Grand Final: Five Diamonds (November 9)

Amenable storms over the top of them! @[e-mail]/6WgPrXrBFp

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 19, 2023

CHARM STONE

Mick Price: “In pre-training at the moment. She had knee surgery after the Golden Rose and we have given her plenty of time. We’ll just get her in and see how she progresses. I think 1200m fresh then she could stretch out to a mile later in the preparation. I just want to get my hands on her first, but you might see her back around early September. If she stays sound, I think she’s got a Group 1 in her for sure. She’s a proper horse.”

Possible target races: Everything is on the table.

Charm Stone is a tough filly!

Next stop: G1 Golden Rose 🌹@[e-mail]/hqpGu31mVW

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 9, 2023

GOLDEN PATH

Mick Price: “He’s another one on the Five Diamonds path. He’ll have a tickover trial leading into the Premier’s Cup Prelude.”

Possible target races: Premier’s Cup Prelude (August 10), Premier’s Cup (August 24)

Grand Final: Five Diamonds (November 9)

Golden Path gives them a hiding in the Listed W.J. McKell Cup at Rosehill! 🏆@[e-mail]/LdAq6lu85P

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024

SNOW PATROL

Mick Price: “He’s a dry tracker and a miler. I would think the Toorak might be OK for him.

He has to be a bit tougher than he’s been in the past. He’ll probably kick off in September.

Possible target races: Still to be decided.”

Grand Final: Toorak Handicap (October 12)

Snow Patrol wins the Group 2 Autumn Stakes! 🙌@MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/vkFKWzwNqs

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 10, 2024

OODNADATTA

Mick Price: “I’ve got a good opinion of his colt. He’s by Too Darn Hot and we did a DNA profile on him and think he’ll be well suited to the Caulfield Guineas.”

Possible target races: He’ll follow a traditional Caulfield Guineas path.

Grand Final: Caulfield Guineas (October 12)

Oodnadatta was heavily supported & he duly saluted 💰@MickPriceRacing@beau_mertenspic.twitter.com/96vHiJ7dLL

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 6, 2024

Originally published as 2024 spring carnival trainer preview: Mick Price discusses key targets for stable stars