Mick Price isn’t usually one for trophies, but he has had a good year and has one special to remember it by.
A Golden Slipper sits in his pool room from Guest House, and a morning suit at Royal Ascot awaits if Charm Stone warrants a trip after Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes.
“If Moody and Brett Cavanough can put one on, I think I can do it just as well,” Price said when asked about heading to the most famous race meeting in the world.
“It would be a great experience to get there but she has to run in the first three in the Sangster for us to lock in the trip.”
Charm Stone has yet to be vaccinated for the trip, but Price-Michael Kent junior has that planned after the Sangster if necessary.
The Manikato Stakes winner has targeted the Adelaide Group 1 for mares after being fourth in the William Reid Stakes, beaten less than a length by resurgent Jigsaw, which is proving a good form race.
She is going to have overcome an outside gate of 15 in the Sangster.
“She has just had that little break since that run, and she has always been good fresh,” Price said. “The idea is to have this run and then head to Ascot, if she shows us it is worthwhile. The boys have planned the vaccinations and we are booked in at a stable.
“I have always liked to travel horses and a trip like Ascot would mean more one-on-one time with the horse.
“You always learn a lot from travelling and just to experience the different ways they train over there would be interesting to me.
“She is the right horse to travel. She will have to take on Joliestar, which is obviously the benchmark over here, but she is a group 1 winner that is getting better.”
Price is looking forward to Saturday’s challenge but is confident his mare in the top shape for the group 1, where emerging sprinter Point Barrow is the $3.70 favourite despite drawing gate 16, in front of Generosity at $6.50, Skybird at $7.
Charm Stone is the fourth line of betting at $10 with Benedetta, Bridal Waltz and My Gladiola.
“She has been to this level before and is well-suited at weight-for-age,” Price said. “She has been very well after the William Reid and I can’t see her not running a good race.”
