Mick Price puts his faith in Wiremu Pinn to handle Amenable in Toorak Handicap
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr have put their faith in apprentice Wiremu Pinn to deliver them another Group 1 Toorak Handicap triumph on Saturday.
Price and Kent Jr won the event with the late I’m Thunderstruck in 2021 while Price claimed the race in 2006 and 2008 with Red Dazzler and Alamosa respectively.
The duo will run Amenable in Saturday’s $1m event, which will be the four-year-old’s first run over 1600m since his close fifth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas in the autumn.
Amenable ran a solid fifth in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes two runs back but was beaten as an odds-on favourite last time out in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m).
Price was happy to forgive Amenable for his last-start defeat to the bold frontrunner Buffalo River in the Testa Rossa Stakes.
“Buffalo River took off into the sunset and he was off and gone, and Amenable had too much to do,” Price said.
Amenable’s handicap rating over 97 should ensure the son of Lonhro will carry the minimum weight in the Toorak Handicap, prompting the stable to seek a lightweight rider.
Price said Pinn has shown plenty of talent since arriving in Australia during the winter.
“Horses go very well for him,” Price said.
“When he gets a consistent pattern of race riding against the better jockeys, he’ll be better again.
“He’s naturally good but will pick up the finesse that comes with race riding.”
Price said the Toorak Handicap barrier draw would be crucial for Amenable’s chances.
“Hopefully we can draw a gate and get him into a good position over the mile,” he said.
“He’s had a bit of a messy preparation but hopefully he can draw well and be put in the race early.”
TAB has Amenable at $11 in its latest ‘all-in’ market on the Toorak Handicap in which the Perth star Amelia’s Jewel is a dominant $2 favourite.
Queenslander Antino is the second favourite at $4.50 ahead of Pride Of Jenni at $8.
While Price and Kent Jr have Group 1 aims for Amenable, the stable has pulled the pin on the spring preparation of unbeaten sprinter What You Need.
What You Need was initially touted as a hope to earn a start in The Everest at the start of his campaign but the stallion is yet to appear this spring.
“We’re not 100 percent happy with him so he’s gone back to the spelling paddock,” Price said.
“We decided to put him back away and give him more time so we expect him back in the autumn.”
