The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will have both the resuming Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and comeback galloper Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.
Ayrton won the race in 2023 and has had one run back from a near 12-month break, while Globe will be first-up off a spell having last raced in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) in December.
Both horses had an exhibition gallop between races at Sandown last Wednesday with the gallop being more beneficial for Globe with Ayrton there as a companion.
Ayrton resumed from a break finishing a fading ninth in the Gr.3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on March 8.
“Ayrton historically goes well fresh up, but he was a bit underdone,” Kent Jnr said.
“He went forward on a warm speed and punctured late, but with a month between runs he’s much more forward.
“He loves Caulfield, he’s won this race before, two years ago.
“He’s going very well, action, enthusiasm for work. It’s all super with him and then there’s race day, he’s an older horse now, and like all of us, things start to be a little bit harder.
“I think he’ll present much better and if we get perfect luck in running, then we’ll really get to see where we are at with him.”
As he does on race day, Kent Jnr said Globe sweated up before his gallop on Wednesday.
Kent Jnr said that the hit-out was beneficial for Globe who sweated up.
“He’s a very, very high energy free sweater,” Kent Jnr said.
“It was good to get him out there where he got a bit pent up before he got out on the track.
“Last preparation Globe sweated up every run, but he finally came good in the Ballarat Cup.
“He was fourth-up that day, deep into his preparation. I’d be worried if he wasn’t sweating up, he won as such in the Cranbourne Cup.”
With a handicap rating of 100, Kent Jnr said Saturday’s race was the ideal contest for Globe to kick-off his campaign.
“He will take the run, I would think, and then we would probably look north with him, not sure where yet, but he loves getting his toe in the ground,” Kent Jnr said.
“With Ayrton, we’ll have to see with him.
“He doesn’t want wet tracks, so Sydney’s out of play for him.”