| Caulfield trainer Mick Price
has done it again! The in form trainer took the
honours at Moonee Valley on Saturday with a winning double.
Incredibly his two winners - Mighty Fine and Elkabayo - were
his only runners at the meeting.
Price's recent hot form and expected success with above
average sprinters Intelligent Star and Chattanooga, continued as two of his other runners
starred at the Valley.
The first success came thanks to the bonny Keltrice mare
Mighty Fine who took the Moonee Valley New Year Handicap (1600m).
Starting a warm favourite Mighty Fine easily beat her rivals,
winning her second race in her past three starts.
By the end of the mile race she had beaten Bellered by a
length and a quarter, while Countback ran a handy third.
Noel Callow was reunited on the mare whom he'd ridden to
success at Caulfield on December 1.
Incredibly Mighty Fine has never finished as a minor
placegetter. From 15 starts she has scored eight wins and over $150,000 in prizemoney.
Two races later it was another top weight carrying the
familiar navy and white colours of the Price camp to victory.
This time Price and connections of Elkabayo were compensated
for their heart breaking defeat in the recent listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield with a
comprehensive victory in the Moonee Valley Functions & Events Handicap (1600m).
With Peter Mertens, who won the listed Seymour Cup on the
gelding in October, back in the saddle the gelding never looked as though he would be
beaten during the race.
His one and a quarter length victory has stamped
"authoritative." The opposition headed by Boy Blue and Pindi Ridge were
seemingly in another race as Elkabayo raced away after straightening.
Part owned by Kurt Stern, the owner of the world class
training establishment Macedon Lodge fronted by John Symons, Elkabayo notched up win
number eight from start 25. His prizemoney now hovers at the $225,000 mark.
PIC - Quentin
Lang |
