THE HIGHLY RATED AYRTON STEPS OUT AS HE PREPARES FOR THE START OF HIS FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN

By Graham Potter | Monday, August 9, 2021

The highly rated Ayrton finished unplaced in an 800m trial on heavy going at Cranborne today, but co-trainer Mick Price was happy enough because he felt that Ayrton’s trial performance was just what the doctored as the four time winner from five starts plots a path back to racing action after last competing in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic over 1600m … a race he won by a comfortable 2.75 lengths.

Speaking to Racing.com, Price said, “The horse was under strict instructions from J. Kah not to get off the bridle and the jockey was under instructions from the trainer not to get off the bridle.

“The horse had a little puff, which was going to happen. He hasn’t done much galloping, but he had a nice day out and it was a good bit of motivation for the lad.”

Ayrton’s main mission will be the $7.5 million Golden Eagle, which is just over two-and-a-half months away, so it can be expected that the now four-year-old will have a finely measured preparation into that contest for which he has already been marked up as favourite.

“He’ll trial again in two weeks’ time so we’ll wait until the 17th (August) and have a course proper trial and then on the 28th, I am thinking we will run in a 1400-metre handicap at Caulfield,” continued Price.

The $1 million Group 1 Memsie Stakes is also scheduled to take place at Caulfield on August 28, but Price, who trains Ayrton in partnership with Michael Kent (Jnr), suggested that Ayrton would sidestep the day’s main feature race in his first-up outing in favour of another 1400m Handicap.

“He’s a 92-rater in a 1400-metre handicap and so it is a nice kick-off point for him and then we are up and running from there,” concluded Price.

Ayrton was unbeaten in his first three starts before going down to Apache Chase in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic, a defeat which cost Ayrton a place in the Stradbroke Handicap.

The gelding bounced back from that disappointment with that win in the Gunsynd, since which time he has been spelled in preparation for his four-year-old campaign.