Wet tracks and a virus stopped Mick Price’s former star juvenile Samaready from performing her best over the past 18 months but the Caulfield horseman believes all the setbacks are now behind them as she steps back up to Group 1 class in the Moir Stakes 2013 on Friday night.
Samaready is on track for a big run in open company for the 2013 Moir Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at just her third start back in February last year the talented daughter of More Than Ready was a luckless third two runs later when beaten by Pierro and Snitzerland in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) that April.
While that kind of two-year-old form would suggest the next year would hold lots of success for the young filly, Samaready has run just two times since.
She spent just over four months on the sidelines after her opening prep bought back for the Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) in August last year.
With the race run on a Heavy (10) Caulfield track however she could only manage to finish fourth behind Elite Elle.
As the wet weather and bog tracks continued Price sent her out for another spell after she was struck down with a virus.
She had further bad luck during the break however suffering a muscle strain in her hindquarters and it would be a full year before Samaready got back to race conditions.
Showing she had lost little of her flair despite her marred lead-up she bounced back on August 31 this year to win the Group 3 The Heath 1100 at her pet track at Caulfield.
Now Price is hoping she can continue her Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival campaign with another big run, this time in the $450,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) under the lights at Moonee Valley in a few days’ time.
It certainly is not an easy second-up assignment however with plenty of imposing rivals ready to line-up.
Among the most notable Moir Stakes hopes are perennial Group 1 minor placegetter Buffering who won the race when it was a Group 2 last year, Stradbroke Handicap champ Linton and Chris Waller’s last start Tatt’s Tiara winner Red Tracer.
Price knows that the class of competitors is high, rating Jason Warren’s international performer and reigning The Galaxy champ Bel Sprinter as one of the main dangers, but knows his mare is also ready to fire.
“I had a look at a mares’ race at Caulfield last Saturday, but we decided to go this way,” Price told AAP.
“I want to compete in the better races and she’s a million dollar Group One winner already …. physically I think she’s ready for it.
“So I’m not taking a backward step with her.
“It’s a Group One with Bel Sprinter and all those horses, but my horse is spot-on so we’ll front up and see how we go.”
Samaready was one of the eye-catching gallopers at Moonee Valley on Monday morning in an effort that further boosted Pride’s confidence.
“She flew,” he said.
“And she had lengths up her sleeve.”
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