2025 Melbourne Cup: Trainers Mick Price, Michael Kent Jr eye Cup
Price and Kent Jr's partnership has been most successful since launching six years ago but the stable has produced only two Melbourne Cup runners.
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Oceanex finished 11th for the duo in 2020 while Lastotchka pulled up with a problem after finishing 13th when making her Australian debut in the 2023 edition of the great race.
'It's the most popular race in Australia,' Kent Jr said.
'It's a race, of course, that Mick and I would love to win and we have developed, in recent times, a strategy in buying a few more of these imported staying types.'
Lastotchka spent 16 months off the scene as she also required colic surgery before having five runs during the Sydney autumn carnival.
• O'Brien looms large in Caulfield Cup raid
Kent Jr said the stable wanted to get Lastotchka racing regularly last time but but the now seven-year-old pleased connections when fourth in a Cranbourne jumpout on August 4.
'Last preparation was aimed at getting back into the groove of things and was aimed at the Sydney Cup,' Kent Jr said.
'We got a good (3) track that day and she did not like it.
'She trialled well on Monday and we'll kick off in the Heatherlie (Handicap) at Caulfield.
'She's a very capable mare and she loves getting her toe in the ground.
'While she'll have an entry, naturally, for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, we just want to get her back winning.'
Import Bur Dubai is one of several smart stayers that will form part of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr's Caulfield and Melbourne Cup team. Picture: Racing Photos
• Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow, forgive from The Valley on Saturday
Lastotchka is one of four Price and Kent Jr-trained runners among Caulfield Cup entries along with fellow imports Kitty Rose and Bur Dubai and handy middle-distance performer Golden Path.
Kent Jr said Bur Dubai, who finished less than three lengths from the winner when resuming at The Valley last Saturday, was one of a cohort of emerging stayers that was set to show up during the spring.
'I thought we produced a few nice ones last preparation,' Kent Jr said.
'We had Bur Dubai, Wonder Kid, Move On In all win over a trip at their first (Australian) preparations.
'We've put them away, looked after them and brought them back in.'
• Melbourne Cup champ Robbie Dolan wins race in Shergar Cup
Kent Jr said there were plenty of options for the lightly-raced trio in the spring with country cups and Melbourne Cup qualifying races, including the recently-added Geelong Cup, on the calendar.
'They're very progressive horses and we don't know where they're going to end up yet,' Kent Jr said.
'They're low-rated but have got good ability, they're sound, they're good types and they have been well sourced.
'Where they get to, I'm not sure, but they're the right horses.'
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