Samaready Set For Good Campaign: Price
- Thursday, 18 September 2014 08:18
Samaready's race return at Caulfield will go a long way to determining whether she earns a rematch with star stablemate Lankan Rupee.
The Mick Price-trained mare, who was winless during a three-start autumn campaign, resumes in Saturday's Group Three Sportingbet Sprint (1200m) against her own sex.
It will be the first time since August last year she has raced outside Group One company.
Samaready started favourite in the Newmarket Handicap in March but was upstaged by Lankan Rupee who has since claimed the mantle of Australia's best sprinter.
However, if she runs well on Saturday she is set to earn another shot at Lankan Rupee in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley next month.
"She's going well. I'm very happy. She looks set for a good preparation," Price said.
"She can be a tricky mare to catch sometimes but she's raced in the top company for a long time."
Saturday will be Damien Oliver's first race ride on Samaready who tuned up for her return with a gallop on the Caulfield course proper on Tuesday.
Her opposition includes the Robert Smerdon-trained pair of Shamal Wind and Politeness who both had jump-outs on the same morning in readiness for the race.
Samaready holds favouritism over Shamal Wind with Girl Guide and A Time For Julia also prominent in betting.
Shamal Wind was a fast-finishing fourth in the Carlyon Stakes first-up and while Smerdon concedes she meets a good field at Caulfield, he feels she will be suited by the set weights plus penalties conditions.
"She'll be sitting off them and be strong late," Smerdon said.
Politeness is resuming and while she is a stakes winner over the distance, Smerdon expects her to benefit from the outing as he looks to stretch her out to 1600m this campaign.
"She's heading to longer races, we hope, but she's going very well," he said.
