Mick Price eyes stakes success after regaining winning groove

Mick Price was getting worn down by a frustrating run of seconds but the wheel turned at the Flemington carnival and the trainer is keen to keep the winners flowing at Sandown.

Michael Manley

2 min read

November 13, 2019 - 4:18PM

Mick Price was getting worn down by a trip he hates, which was to the second placegetter’s stall, in the first few months of this racing season.

“I don’t like it. I don’t like finishing second and we were up to 36 seconds, which was far too many,” Price said. “It makes a massive difference to the business whether you win or finish second.”

The wheel has turned for Price and his training partner Michael Kent Jr, who have trained nine winners in November, including three during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington — Oceanex, Teleplay and Savaheat.

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Savaheat continued his winning form at Flemington. Picture: AAP

“At Flemington we only had eight runners and we came in the third-most successful stable behind [Chris] Waller and [Danny] O’Brien,” Price said.

“We don’t have big numbers, so I was pleased. I didn’t have any doubts it would turn. We've got our systems in place and we’re working hard. We don’t have a headline horse but we’ve got some useful ones. It’s ticking along nicely.”

On Saturday at Sandown Hillside, Price and Kent Jr will have five runners, including last-start Flemington winners Savaheat (Eclipse Stakes) and Teleplay (Kevin Heffernan Stakes).
Price and Kent Jr will also have last-start winner Defend in the Sandown Guineas and two-year-olds River Twain and Safeeya in the Merson Cooper Stakes.

Price was considering starting Teleplay in the inaugural $1m The Hunter at Newcastle but said the bushfires in NSW made it easy to stay in Melbourne.

“I’m not sure whether we could get there,” he said. “It’s an easier field here and there’s only nine in it, which will suit her.”

Trainer Mick Price had a successful Melbourne Cup Carnival with his team. Picture: AAP

Savaheat has won his two starts this time in and Price has decided to start him on Saturday and then back him up the following week in the Ballarat Cup

“He’s a nice enough horse and he’s got into the groove going between our Warrnambool and Caulfield stables,” he said. “It’s a step up in grade, though.”

Mott out for six months

Top heavyweight jockey Jamie Mott is hoping to avoid further surgery after last week’s serious fall at Cranbourne where he broke his right leg in two spots.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matt Hyland said surgeons also found a fracture on his left ankle but had decided to not yet operate.

“He’ll spend the next two weeks in a moon boot and then they will re-examine in two weeks and decide whether they will let it heal naturally or need screws to be inserted,” Hyland said.

En route to the Alfred broken my tibia and fibula pic.twitter.com/Ivj43vFXuc
— Jamie Mott (@jamieleemott) November 8, 2019

Mott broke his tibia and fibula when he was one of four jockeys who came down in the four-horse fall at Cranbourne last Friday. He had surgery to insert a rod and screw to a fractured tibia and fibula.

Hyland said Mott was back at home but would be sidelined for about six months.

Declan Bates had surgery on a fractured kneecap suffered at Geelong last Saturday when he was thrown from Ski Boom and landed on asphalt in the mounting yard. He is expected to return to riding by the New Year.

Prince falls short

The Daniel Bowman-trained Mumbles was able to sprint over the top of Black Caviar’s son Prince Of Caviar to win the 1100m Benchmark 70 at Bendigo on Wednesday. Prince Of Caviar hadn’t raced since September last year. He has now had five starts for one win, three seconds and a fourth.

Mumbles takes down son of Black Caviar, Prince Of Caviar in his return to the track. pic.twitter.com/W3gNdUSxzi
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 13, 2019