Mick Price knows exactly what kind of horse it takes to win the Australian Guineas and the trainer is hopeful that Otago can win at Flemington and earn his chance in the autumn Group 1.
Price, who now trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, has won the three-year-old feature three times with Light Fantastic in 2008, Heart Of Dreams in 2009 and Grunt in 2018 and says Saturday's race over 1400m looks a nice test for Otago.
"It could be him if he's to train on, he's a talented gelding, three-and-a-half weeks between runs because I wanted to avoid the second up syndrome which was going to be 13 days so I'm hoping that works but it should work with a low speed and a low gate," Price said.
Otago won impressively by 2-1/2 lengths on debut in a Bendigo maiden and the form out of that race has been excellent with placegetters Sparkling and The Autumn Belle both winning convincingly at their next outing.
With the Australian Guineas taking place on March 2 at Flemington, Price is hoping Otago, who is a $2 favourite in early markets, can win on Saturday and allow the stable to develop a path to the Guineas.
"He's a talented horse, albeit that he's learning," Price said.
"I think he's going to be a typical Kiwi, developing as he gets on, he should run really well.
"If he does win, I would think with two wins it will allow me to give him a breather and try and get him into the Australian Guineas."
Beau Mertens rode Otago on debut and will keep the ride on Saturday from barrier four.
