Racing: Price seeks to build on track success

Sophie Price
Sophie Price
Winton trainer Sophie Price would love it if her hot streak with Omakau continued today.

Price has four runners engaged for the Central Otago Racing Club's seven-race meeting this afternoon as she looks to add to the wins of Motorboat Mike (January last year) and Dermott Brown (this January) on the course.

Both gallopers are back again today to help Price add to her record on the track.

''I've only had four or five starters there and I've had two winners,'' Price said.

''They seem to like the [smaller] tracks, I think.''

Price's two victories at Omakau have come at the January meetings, although today's mission will be a dash up and down the road from Winton.

The dead4 track should suit three of Price's horses, with Motorboat Mike getting first crack at the spoils in a five-horse rating 75 2000m.

The Perfectly Ready 6yr-old was fifth over 2200m at Wingatui on February 6, although he was in an unfamiliar role of early pacemaker.

''He's not a front-running horse, but it was the fact he drew 1 and there was no-one around him so he got stuck and he had to stay there - there was no way around it.

''He's had two starts at Omakau for a win and a second so hopefully he wins tomorrow.''

Dermott Brown's size would normally suggest he would not suit a track like Omakau, but Price said his cornering ability was a big help.

''He goes around the corners pretty good and I think dropping him back again to the 1100m will suit him. He's working really well - he hasn't missed a beat,'' she said.

''We get a couple of kilos off him so that helps a wee bit - drops him down a bit.''

There was nothing funny about Court Jester's debut at Ascot Park on February 4, although he has since trialled without any problems.

''At his last start, he got kicked when he jumped out and he actually started bucking. He had a trial on Sunday and I rode him and he did everything right, so there's no reason to think he's going to do it again.''

The Groomsman (race 7) would be better on a rain-affected track, but Price said she needed to get another run into the 7yr-old before southern features over Easter.

''I would prefer to wait for wet tracks but when are they going to come? They could come next week or they could be six weeks away.''

The gelding cracked a cannon bone in April last year and the 2000m should suit him more than his fresh-up run over 1200m.

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