Astute trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr prepare Eagerly Awaits for Boxing Day debut at Morphettville on Thursday

Connections of Written Tycoon filly Eagerly Awaits are hoping for a late Christmas present when the two-year-old makes her debut at Morphettville on Boxing Day.

Trainer Michael Kent Jnr (left) celebrates a win at Ballarat on December 7. Picture: Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Connections of Written Tycoon filly Eagerly Awaits are hoping for a late Christmas present when the two-year-old makes her debut at Morphettville on Boxing Day.

A daughter of Mightily – who is a full sister to multiple Group 1 winner Extreme Choice – Eagerly Awaits was a $200,000 purchase at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April.

Trainer Mick Price prepared Extreme Choice, now a champion sire, to Group 1 success and co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr is hoping that the filly has inherited a slice of the class her uncle showcased across his brief yet brilliant eight-start career.

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“She’s done everything right, she’s in very good order. We’ve brought her across to Adelaide in a bid to get a two-year-old win on the board with her and get her confidence up,” Kent Jnr said.

“She’s a professional two-year-old, she jumped out well here at Cranbourne, and these Cranbourne jumpouts are very good pointers to future race success.”

Eagerly Awaits finished sixth and second in her respective Cranbourne hit-outs. The winners of those trials, Wiltshire Square and Invincible Woman, have both since won on debut at feature level.

WOW! EXTREME CHOICE unleashes a thundering burst to triumph in the Moir Stakes! pic.twitter.com/gZdn7LlrTO

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 30, 2016

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“She’s coping with training very nicely, she hasn’t taken a backwards step,” Kent Jr said.

“We just don’t feel she’s ready to go to town in Melbourne and go bang, so it (Morphettville) seemed like a nice race where she could go there, have some race experience, hopefully get some confidence and prizemoney – which is so important when you’re trying to get into nicer races in the autumn.

“She arrived over the weekend in fine fettle, she galloped this morning (Monday) at Morphettville, she worked a half-mile and worked well.

“She’s placed well and there to run really well, she’s certainly a top three chance.”

Price and Kent Jnr have the services of Group 1-winning jockey Manoel Nunes aboard Eagerly Awaits for the Two-Year-Old Plate over 1000m.

Rylie Morgan spoke with visiting star jockey Manoel Nunes after winning on his first ride in WA on Housewife for Williams Racing. pic.twitter.com/2ZzklhMJnH

— Racing WA Thoroughbred (@RacingWA_Tbreds) December 18, 2024

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The stable is creating a fruitful partnership with Nunes, who relocated from Singapore to South Australia in October.

The Brazilian hoop has ridden three winners from six rides for Price and Kent Jnr, striking at 50 per cent.

“Drawing barrier eight of ten, she has naturally got some good speed, we’ll leave it up to Manoel and how he rides her, he’s riding in really good touch at the moment,” Kent Jnr said.

“It’s always the way these partnerships form, you need a rider and Manoel was available one day, if they make the most opportunities and he did – he got a winner right away.

“He’s been really good, he seems to have settled in really quickly, he rides with good timing and rhythm, lets his horses flow, he’s not too worried about the speed map and is a naturally good rider.

“We’ve been pleased with his efforts on our horses so far and no doubt we’ll keep up the association.”

Nunes will also on Thursday pilot last-start winner Cosmic Ride, Price and Kent Jnr’s second runner on Morphettville’s eight-race card.

Originally published as Astute trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr prepare Eagerly Awaits for Boxing Day debut at Morphettville on Thursday