Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) headed to last year’s Queensland winter carnival with unbeaten Ayrton considered the one to beat in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
The then three-year-old son of Ifraaj had won his first two starts by 5 and 4.25 lengths respectively before coming back from a spell and winning again first up at Caulfield last May. In doing so, proving he wasn’t a one hit wonder before leaving for his winter campaign in the Sunshine State.
All didn’t go to plan though when he was beaten by Apache Chase in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic. Although only beaten into second by a nostril, it meant that he didn’t make the field for Queensland’s premier race. All was not lost though as he took home the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) as a consolation prize and he is back on Saturday for another crack at the 1400m handicap.
The year between though hasn’t been an easy road for the now four-year-old. Ayrton is lucky to be alive, let alone racing again, after surviving a suspected spider bite last year.
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“He’s had a chequered twelve months, hasn’t he?” says co-trainer Mick Price.
“He was out of business, he was nearly underground there for a little while, had a very infected leg, had a lot of anti-inflammatories, antibiotics.
“He was a wasted, sick horse.”
Price says his partner, Shona Drechsler, played a crucial role in the horse’s recovery.
“I remember Shona was at him every single day with yoghurt and all this stuff for his gut,” he said.
“It wasn’t very pleasant there for a while, she’d done a great job with him. The stable love him and if he could get a nice split at the end of the Stradbroke and stick his head out, I’m sure there will be plenty of happy people around.”
Ayrton returned to the races following his ordeal with a comeback win in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) in April.
Price said that The Stradbroke wasn’t the original plan with Ayrton this winter. But after he failed to handle the heavy conditions in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) second up at the Gold Coast a month ago, it became the target race and he is pleased with the horse heading into this Saturday’s $1.5 million feature racing event.
“He’s had a good freshen, he’s had some nice gallops, he had a nice trial on the Sunny Coast poly, and I think he’s pretty spot on,” he said.
“Jamie Kah’s on and hopefully he can bounce and not be too far off them.
“He’s not going to be up on the speed, it’s a very fast horses’ race, the Straddy but if he has a nice run and he gets clean air, he’ll be in the money.”
Ayrton is paying around the $6 quote to win the Stradbroke Handicap with Australian horse betting sites, which are expected to have numerous promotions surrounding Saturday’s meeting at Eagle Farm.
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