Caulfield trainer Mick Price thought Tavisan was a bit hampered by the running of Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, where he finished third, but was happy enough with the run heading into next month's Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
"He drew barrier three and was taken to the outside," Price said.
"I think that caused him to be a bit unbalanced, I think that if he had maintained his own line in the race he would have attacked the line a little bit better.
"I'm not
that sure he would have won, but I know he was a bit disadvantaged by wandering
all the way u
p the straight."
Price thinks his colt will take a lot of improvement out of the race and expects him to be competitive up to a mile over the spring.
"He's a tough horse, he pulled up fantastic this morning," he said. "He's a good tempered horse like a lot of those Tavistock's and he'll train on no problem.
"I had him fresh for that 1200m race, trying to win it of course, but I think you'll start to see him come into his own."
Tavisan will now head to the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at the end of this month, before tackling the Caulfield Guineas.
"I spoke with Walker (Michael, jockey), who has a very good understanding of him, and we think 1400m in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and into the Caulfield Guineas would be beautiful," Price said.
"Even though he flies the gates, he is a horse we think will come back, so if we could draw a gate in the Guineas Prelude and ride a race on him and then go into the Caulfield Guineas that would be ideal." – NZ Racing Desk
