Price Hoping To Buck Trend
Wednesday, 22 October 2008:  | | Alamosa wins the Toorak |
Alamaso, a former Kiwi and a three time Group 1 winner there, brought up his first Australian win in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last Saturday week.
There he was ridden cold from a wide gate but stormed home to score an impressive win over Rockwood.
It was his fourth run of the spring after three weight-for-age runs leading into the handicap last start and Price believes the entire is now ready for a longer journey.
At yesterday's barrier draw, where connections were allowed to pick their barrier a la Kentucky Derby style, Price chose barrier seven for Alamosa in the hope he can again be given a quiet ride by Newitt and saved for a big finish.
The last two Cox Plate winners, Fields Of Omagh and El Segunda, both jumped from barrier seven.
“We rode him forward in those weight-for-age races where he ran well without winning,” Price said.
“In the Toorak though he drew a gate that enabled us to ride him midfield with cover and I was really happy with the way he hit the line.
“So we were always planning to ride him off the speed in the Cox Plate and I would have thought barrier seven is ideal for some horses to go forward, and for us to stay out of trouble and ride a nice race on him.”
Price said he spoke with connections prior to the spring as to a long range target, which came up as the Cox Plate.
He did his grounding in early weight-for-age race but Price said he had bloomed with a month off leading into the Toorak.
At the Breakfast With The Best at Moonee Valley yesterday he was given an easy time, running a mile in evens, as Price said he is ready to go.
“He's full of himself at the moment and at his absolute top to run well on Saturday.”
The only horse to run in the Toorak then win the Cox Plate over the last 20 years was Fields Of Omagh, who finished second in the Toorak behind Roman Arch.
No horse has completed the double over the last 20 years.
Alamosa is a $10 chance with Sportingbet behind equal favourites Princess Coup and Samantha Miss at $3.80 and Zipping at $8.00.
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