Luke Price is confident Saturday's Nudgee Stakes will act as the perfect stepping stone to the Magic Millions for boom filly Jamaea.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The three-year-old will line up against the likes of $2.50 favourite Isotope and Chris Waller's Nudge for the Listed race at Doomben.
The contest, however, is just the warm up for Jamaea's grand final, the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas on January 15.
The filly arrived in the Gold Coast early on Thursday morning and Price is confident it won't take her long to find her feet in Queensland.
"I just want to see her finding the line," Price said. "I'm confident she's going well, it filled me up with more confidence the way she got off the truck.
"I want her to get around safely on Saturday, I won't be too stressed if she gets beaten. Isotope is a smart mare.
"If we're running on well at 1200, I'll be really happy heading to the 1400 at the Magic Millions."
Jamaea's trip to Queensland comes after a breakthrough year for the Price stable.
The filly enjoyed dual Group 2 success before finishing eighth in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
Stablemate Count De Rupee followed it up by running second in the Golden Eagle before a memorable victory in The Gong on his home track.
Jamaea will remain in Queensland for the next two weeks, where she will likely be joined by recent stable addition Our Bellagio Miss and emerging gelding Mr Rock It.
Price safely arrived in the state on Wednesday night and the next hurdle is for jockey Tommy Berry to cross the border.
The hoop was denied entry last weekend after his PCR test results did not arrive in time, however recent rule changes have allayed concerns of a repeat this week.
Berry rode Jamaea to victory in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes in April and Price is confident he will place her well when they jump from barrier one.
"I'd rather draw one than wide," Price said. "She's not always good cluttered up on the fence, but she's got to learn to do that.
"Tommy will decide where to place her when the gates open. With Vulpine drawn wide, there will be pace in the race.
"Tommy's just got to keep her in one piece and if she gets a clear passage, she'll be dynamite down the straight."
Closer to home, the stable will send eight horses around at Nowra's New Year's Eve meeting. Price rates Kimberley Rain and Uncle Al Pal as the pick of the group.
"I think you'll see Kimberley Rain races back into form. Her trial was good, her private jump out was even better, she's just got to do it at the races.
"Uncle Al Pal, I think we might've found the right race first-up. He's had a few issues, but he's a deserved favourite to win a race like that."