至於Mick Price的前澳洲盃冠軍「龐貝尊主」亦宣告復出
上年受足腱影響養傷成季,暫定在 文西錦標 復出
Trainer Mick Price is excited about the progress of Group One winner Pompeii Ruler who is on the comeback trail and being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups this spring.
Price said the six-year-old was in top shape for his racetrack return in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 30 after suffering a suspensory ligament injury last spring.
"I think he could do some serious damage this spring," Price said.
"He is feeling well and came off the track last week pig rooting and squealing."
Pompeii Ruler, winner of the 2007 Australian Cup, has traditionally run well fresh but Price said he wasn't training him for a first-up win the Memsie, preferring to take a slow and easy approach to the Cups.
The gelding hasn't raced since finishing fourth to Apache Cat in the Group Two Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18 last year.
Initially Price had hoped to get a run out of Pompeii Ruler in the autumn but three-quarters of the way into his campaign he wasn't convinced the horse was over the injury.
"The leg scanned up good but I decided to put him out to be safe," Price said.
"I think the suspensory was a bit soft last time and I didn't really like the look of it, but I like the look of it now. It is excellent."
Pompeii Ruler was on the losing end of three-way photo to Fields Of Omagh and El Segundo in the 2006 Cox Plate but Price is content at this stage to have Light Fantastic, Alamosa, and possibly Dorabella and Sound Journey, targeting the weight-for-age championship this year.
Pompeii Ruler has earned more than $1.5 million from his 14 starts and his seven wins include the 2006 Liston Stakes and 2006 Group Two Craiglee Stakes (1600m).
His last win came in the weight-for-age Australian Cup (2000m) held on his home track at Caulfield while Flemington was undergoing renovations.
"He is a really furnished gelding now who has not had much racing," Price said.
"He is looking great and the signs are positive.
"I am thinking Caulfield Cup, and possibly Melbourne Cup, with him but he can just gradually progress.
"He has had a soft tissue injury and should be able to come back from it."
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