Trainer Mick Price is banking on the forecast wet weather arriving before the weekend to boost the chances of Count Of Limonade in the Group 2 $350,000 Deadly Design Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
Glen Boss will ride the Mick Price trained Count Of Limonade in the Zipping Classic at Sandown. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Even though Count Of Limonade has won on firm tracks, Price considers the Irish import to be at his best on rain affected tracks.
The top Caulfield trainer pointed out that Count Of Limonade was able to win the $135,000 The WIN Network Moe Cup (2050m) at Moe on a slow track two starts back then could only manage a fifth on a Good 3 track in the Listed $250,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo on October 29.
“He ran well in the Bendigo Cup but those firmer tracks are not his go,” Price told AAP.
“If it’s a dead five on Saturday he’ll definitely run and will be competitive and he’s done some good work down at Coronet Bay.
“I know the weights don’t favour him but he’s ready to get tried at the mile-and-a-half.”
Since Price took over the training of the import, the Caulfield trainer has had to monitor the stallions shin soreness from racing on the firm Australian tracks.
Count Of Limonade was sent to Eric Musgrove at Coronet Bay to work the horse on the beach as well as on an undulating 2000m track to toughen up his soft European legs.
“He’s one of those Europeans that, when we first got him, he was pulling up shin sore on these Australian tracks,” Price said.
“So we’ve got to be very careful with him.”
Count Of Limonade is stepping up sharply in class but with Glen Boss sticking to him after partnering him at his last two starts, the five year old has been marked as a $13 chance for the Zipping Classic with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Prince Of Penzance from the Darren Weir stable is the early favourite at $3.50 ahead of Spillway at $4, 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon at $5 and French stayer Au Revoir at $5.50.
Count Of Limonade beat Prince Of Penzance, second, when they clashed in the Moe Cup but the Zipping Classic favourite has performed well in town since with a win in the Group 2 $250,000 Racing.com Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and a second to Le Roi in the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 8.
