Mick Price is hoping his exciting prospect Tavidance can farewell summer racing with a win in the Lord Stakes and further stamp himself as a horse who can be a factor in better races.
Price said he was happy to give Tavidance a short break after Saturday as he believed the tracks would become too firm for him over summer.
However, he feels the Caulfield track should be ideal for Tavidance on Boxing Day as the sting will be out of the ground after recent rain.
Tavidance is a $2.50 favourite with TAB fixed odds to win the Listed Lord Stakes over 1700 metres.
Tavidance followed two unlucky runs with an easy 3-3/4 length win at Pakenham over 1600 metres in an open handicap at his last start.
“He's drawn an awkward gate (barrier nine). Hopefully he'll get a good ride from ‘Ollie' (Damien Oliver) and I think he'll be very hard to beat,” Price said
“All going well he can get to better races in the autumn but I'm not going to be rating him up too hard.”
Price said he believed Tavidance would be suited over 2000 metres in the future.
“If he's going well next time in, I would think he'd end up in Sydney but what sort of race, I'm not sure,” he said.
Price and co-trainer Mick Kent Junior also have the shortest-priced favourite on the Caulfield program in three-year-old Ayrton, who is a $2 favourite for the Ken Sturt Handicap (1400m).
Ayrton has had one start for a five-length win in a Bendigo maiden.
“He's exciting. He looks a talent. He glided past them to win at Bendigo,” Price said.
Price said Ayrton would need to win convincingly on Saturday if he was to push on to the Australian Guineas in March.
Stablemate Safeeya will contest the same race and she also heads there in form after resuming with a comprehensive win in maiden company at Cranbourne over 1400 metres.
“She's working well and she's a ripper each-way chance,” Price said.
The stable also has consistent on-pace sprinter Tavisan in the Listed Christmas Stakes over 1200 metres.
“The race should set up pretty well for him, although a lot will depend on what happens in the early stages between Tavisan and Sansom,” Price said.
“Jamie Kah is on and she'll be able to work it out.”