Impressive maiden winner heads to Sandown

Golden Path winning at Pakenham last month. Photo: Morgan Hancock, Racing Photos

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have a happy knack of finding the right type of unraced New Zealand galloper to show its ability in Australia.

Globe was a galloper sourced from New Zealand that has won four times from as many starts for the trainers while one of their latest projects is Golden Path, a three-year-old son of Belardo, who runs in the ive > Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday.

After three trials in New Zealand, Golden Path made his way into the Price and Kent Jnr yard where he made a winning debut at Pakenham over 1400m last month.

That followed a Werribee trial win over 1100m on May 16.

“He’s always shown us nice ability,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s a raw, scopey, long striding horse and he took care of moderate maiden company pretty comfortably with plenty in hand.

“We’ve been really happy with him between runs, and he seems to have come on since Pakenham.

“His work has been a lot more meaningful, and he seems spot on leading into this, but he needs to be.

“It’s a fair jump up in grade against some tougher and more seasoned three-year-olds, but he looks the right horse to be taking to town for his second start.

“He’s going to lap up the big Sandown straight and we have a bit of confidence that he will acquit himself very well.”

Kent Jnr said it was unfair to attempt to put a label on Golden Path that he could be horse in a similar mould to Globe, but the co-trainer does believe the gelding will develop into a nice horse.

He said the stable will not rush the gelding as they believe he is still six to 12 months away from reaching his full potential.

“We hope he’ll go through his grades,” Kent Jnr said.

“Whether he wins or runs very nicely on Saturday, I think he’s a city class horse.

“I’m delighted he’s drawn barrier four which will mean we should get a lovely run in the race.

“With no weight on his back, he should run well for a very in form Beau Mertens.” -NZ Racing Desk