Price predicting a strong spring for Oregon’s Day

TRAINER Mick Price is expecting a big spring from his mare Oregon’s Day after the four-year-old took out the Chandler Macleod Plate in commanding fashion at Caulfield on Saturday.

Racing second-up after a luckless eighth placed finish at fortnight ago at the same track, Oregon’s Day, which paid +360 at Crownbet.com.au, was steered into the race nicely by Mark Zahra, who expertly pocketed the second placed horse Swampland (-125 at Sportsbet.com.au) right until the closing stages of the race.

Pre-race firmer Princess Of Queens traveled nicely into third and returned +100 at Crownbet.com.au but never troubled the front pair.

Trainer Mick Price said the horse was assisted by an armchair ride from Zahra.

“The ride worked out good didn’t it?” Price said.

Rival jockey Chris Symons pulled Swampland to the wide outside in the dying stages of the race but just missed out on toppling the eventual winner.

Price believes Oregon’s Day’s performance is indicative of a good upcoming preparation, which will feature several group races along the way.

“At the top of the straight she didn’t have much work to do … she hung in a little bit but she’s off to the Let’s Elope now and the Vinery Stud Stakes, the group two.

“She’s a nice mare for the spring and should go on.”

The other point of interest out of the race was the continued form of Swampland.

After getting no luck at the top of the straight, jockey Chris Symons pulled the four-year-old to the outside and the horse responded, making up several lengths but just falling short of toppling the winner.

Trainer Henry Dwyer confirmed Swampland will again tackle Oregon’s Day in a fortnight’s time.

“She’ll go to the Let’s Elope Stakes in two weeks then she probably goes for a spell,” Dwyer said.

“We’ll head back to Flemington where she’ll be better off.”

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