Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s promising colt First Settler is set to resume on Saturday in the Listed HKJC Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington.
The talented three-year-old, who boasts a record of four starts for two wins and a second—two of those runs down the Flemington straight—returns to racing for the first time since finishing midfield in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last spring.
His spring campaign included a sharp win in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m).
Trainer Mick Price admitted the colt was due to return earlier in the campaign but was sidelined by a minor setback.
“He hurt a hind leg in the paddock and that held him up a little bit, but I think we’ll be able to catch the right races,” Price said.
Owned by Yulong, First Settler has tuned up for his return with two sharp 800-metre jump-out wins at Cranbourne, impressing the stable with his progress.
“He trialled last week and trialled very good, in fact both his trials have been very good,” Price said.
“He was probably on the way down in the Coolmore, but he’s a lovely colt, he’s got a good brain on him and he’s no trouble.
“I think on what he’s been showing us, he’ll show up on Saturday for sure, so he’ll run down the straight, which he likes the straight, and then he’ll go to Arrowfield.
“He’s got good Group ability and hopefully he’s got Group 1 ability at some point.”
First Settler will jump from barrier one with regular jockey Michael Dee back in the saddle.
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