Golden Path leads to Sydney
While the Ipswich Cup was within his grasp and well in the market, co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have decided that a trip back to Sydney this Saturday is a better option for Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo).
The six-year-old will be in the nominations for the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill attempting repeat his win in the race in 2024.
"It was too difficult from barrier 15 of 15 in the Ipswich Cup," Kent Jnr said.
Golden Path has been winless since September last year when taking out an open handicap at Flemington but among the eight runs since has been a third placing in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and a second placing in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
"His problem is that he's earned himself a fairly high rating without winning anything gangbusters," he added.
"That group one placing in the Underwood, he's always going to get top weight in these winter handicaps so it does pose some problems because he hasn't been able to take that next step.
The gelding led into the straight last start in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on May 30 but was overwhelmed late to finish fifth.
"He had to do a lot of work in that race, and he still stuck on with it quite bravely so I think if you have a soft draw and a soft run in transit, then he'd go close.
"Though if he was giving weight to a smart, progressive young stayer then they might be hard to hold out."
