| Leading local
trainer Mick Price brought up a double at Caulfield today by winning the two races he had
gallopers in. Pesto made an impressive winning debut
when she proved too speedy for a big field of juveniles in the Rupert Greene Super Vobis
Handicap (1100m).
Bred and owned by Geoff Johnson the win may have started a
big week internationally for the family. Johnson's son Murray will saddle up the Kentucky
Derby placegetter Perfect Drift in next weekend's Group One Belmont Stakes in America.
Johnson senior decided the keep and race the youngster
instead of sending him to the sales as a yearling.
"We could have put him through the ring, but honestly
he would have brought only about $5,000," Johnson said. "He's only by Clear
Choice and he isn't a commercial stallion at the moment."
The win was also packed with plenty of emotion as the filly
won just two week's after Johnson's wife passed away.
Winning trainer Mick Price said the plan was to continue
the filly's preparation through the winter months.
"She hasn't been overcooked," Price said after
the win. "She have another run and then maybe even another."
The Price double was completed in the George A Davis Super
Vobis Handicap (1800m) when the last start Kyneton winner Sir Modred led throughout.
Despite coming from a wide barrier the three-year-old colt
by King's Theatre proved too speedy for Wild Classic, who was the best of the beaten
brigade a length and a half away.
Price revealed after the win that he was trying to convince
connections of Sir Modred to sell the galloper overseas.
"I didn't think he'd be up to city races so I was
trying to organise for him to be sold to Macau," Price said.
"Luckily they didn't listen to me," he quipped. |
