Mick Price has both Irada and Gungastruck in the 2015 Taj Rossi Series Final and the leading Melbourne trainer believes that Irada is clearly his best chance in the Listed race at Flemington tomorrow.
Craig Newitt has been booked to partner Irada in the 2015 Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington tomorrow. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Irada made her racing debut with a win in the Latrobe City Maiden Plate (1200m) at Moe on May 31 and she stamped herself as a leading contender for the Taj Rossi Series Final when she flew home late to finish third in the Murray Cox Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on June 27.
Price said that he didn’t expect Irada to get as far back as she did in the Murray Cox Handicap and he told Racing Ahead that he will be instructing Craig Newitt to settle the daughter of Iffraaj closer to the speed in the early stages of the Taj Rossi Series Final.
“I was surprised that she got so far back in that race, but over a mile from barrier three I will probably have a chat to the stewards and aim to be in the first five because it will be a different tempo over a different distance,” Newitt said.
“That form line is the right form line and I am looking forward to her.
“I think Irada is better suited and she is going to get a cosy run in the race.”
Gungastruck will be make her Melbourne metropolitan debut in the Taj Rossi Series Final, but is taking winning form into the race after she took out the John Duff and Co Maiden Plate (1380m) at Pakenham on June 26.
Price said that he has a good opinion of Gungastruck, but he believes that the Encosta De Lago filly will need plenty of luck in running to take out the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington this weekend.
“Gungastruck is a nice filly,” Price said.
“She is a little bit immature, but her maiden win as good and a mile will be good for her.
“She is going to need a bit of luck from barrier 12 and I don’t know what we are going to do from there.
“Apart from the El Greco form it is a patchy two-year-old and she is a filly that will appreciate the big Flemington mile.”
Irada is currently available at 2015 Taj Rossi Series Final odds of $3.50 with Ladbrokes and she is currently a narrow favourite from El Greco ($3.70), Royal Rumble ($5.50) and Bengal Cat ($5.50).
