Mick Price is excited about what the future might hold for Head First and he will become even more optimistic if she is able to win at Sandown on Wednesday.
The daughter of Headwater has not been to the races since her brilliant debut win at Wodonga last July and Price has prepared with a view to the campaign ahead.
The Cranbourne trainer, who operates in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, suspects the 1000 metres of the 50 Year Life Member Toy Cavanagh 3YO Fillies BM64 Handicap will be too sharp for her.
“We haven’t lit her up to a be a good thing first up – we could have – but I want to see her train on,” Price said.
“I’d be looking for her to be better at 1100 or 1200 and if there are a couple of fast fillies in the race it probably makes her vulnerable.
“It’ll be interesting to see (how she goes) because she’s been held together in her trials just with a view to the time off she’s had and I’d like to get five or six runs out of her.”
Head First justified the stable’s belief in her ability when she strolled home by 5-1/2 lengths over 1100m on a Heavy 8 surface at Wodonga.
The $110,000 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale purchase was given a spring campaign but was not pushed when it became apparent she was not 100 percent.
“She won really well but she was an immature, really scrawny type of filly so we spelled her straight away and did the right thing by her and she really grew,” Price said.
“I brought her back for a preparation and she had a cold, she had a little bit of EIPH on scope and it was just enough for me to say, ‘she’s still growing and maturing’ so we put her out.
“We put her out with a view to looking after her and she seems fine now.”
Head First, who will be ridden by Newmarket Handicap-winning jockey Patrick Moloney and jump from barrier two, heads TAB’s market at $3.80.