Mick Price is looking for an early upgrade to the page of one of the yearlings he bought at this week’s Inglis Easter Sale with a sibling to debut in Saturday’s Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield.
Price on Wednesday paid $550,000 for the I Am Invincible half-sister to Easterly, a daughter of Pride Of Dubai and Redoute’s Choice mare Moosirra, wo runs in the 1100-metre Listed event.
Some consider it a good sign when a trainer spends up on a yearling with an unraced member of the family at home, but Price said Easterly’s talent wasn’t the overriding factor in the purchase for different connections.
“We’re hoping that the $550,000 we paid for the Moosirra goes up in value after the Redoute’s Choice,” Price said from the Inglis complex at Warwick Farm.
“The Moosirra here was a gorgeous filly, we loved her, but it’s a coincidence that we have the half-sister and it’s also a coincidence that she’s racing after we bought the Moosirra.
“The two are separate, but I hope Easterly can get herself on what is already a fantastic page.”
In addition to Easterly, the Moosirra yearling is a sister to Muntaseera, who is also by I Am Invincible and won a Listed Redelva Stakes and finished runner-up in a Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Paving the way for Easterly on Saturday will be the likely scratching of stablemate and $5.50 chance Wee Nessy, who is set to be saved for a race in Adelaide over its carnival.
Price was sent Easterly by Sheamus Mills and Leneva Park, who paid $200,000 for the filly at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and has been impressed by what he’s seen in two 800m Cranbourne jumpouts.
The first was a fifth placing on March 15, followed by a stylish fourth placing on March 28 when she hit the line nicely under light riding.
Price considers the Redoute’s Choice Stakes a good starting point for the filly he will hopes will rise to Group company in the spring.
“I think Easterly has a bright, Group career in front of her,” he said. “I’m hoping she’s a Thousand Guineas filly in the spring.
“I don’t think the shorter races are 100 percent suitable for her but she’s a beautiful strong, good type and I think in the spring you’ll see her over 1200, 1400, 1600 (metres).”
Daniel Moor, recently returned from Hong Kong, will take the ride on Easterly, who is a $21 chance in TAB’s market.