I’m Thunderstruck and his jockey Jye Mcneil will need to be as brave as they were in the Toorak Handicap to claim the All-Star Mile at Flemington.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Jnr-trained I’m Thunderstruck took the narrowest of openings between two horses during the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield which won the gelding the race.
In Saturday’s $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m), I’m Thunderstruck has drawn barrier one and Price can already see the gelding and McNeil needing to pull off a similar feat to be successful.
“Anyone that says barrier one is fantastic has not trained enough horses,” Price said.
“Barrier one in the big weight-for-age races, and we’ve got a horse that is not going to lead, so we’re going to need some luck.
“It’s a problem gate, no doubt about that, and if he gets the choice, I’m sure he’ll make the right choice and he’s on a brave horse.
“Remember the Toorak, where there was no room for horse and no room for rider, I thought the horse was brave, but Jye was extra brave to sneak through a gap that you normally wouldn’t take.
“The horse will take a gap, the jockey will take a gap, but they need to be going faster than the gap.”
Price said he could not have I’m Thunderstruck going any better heading into Saturday’s race.
I’m Thunderstruck was underdone first-up when fifth in the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield on February 12 before again running fifth in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield two weeks later.
Price said I’m Thunderstruck had a gallop over 1200m at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning and what impressed the trainer was his work after the line.
“The thing with Cranbourne is it has beautiful long gallops, and they wind past the line, and I often watch my horses after the line to see how well they work,” Price said.
“After the line he was very strong for the next furlong and Jye came back and said the horse was thriving, going super.
“I think the big mile at Flemington is pretty spot for him on and we just need a little bit of joy.”