MICK Price is exuding confidence regarding the prospects of his already dual Group 1 winning mare Charm Stone when she resumes in Saturday’s G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Charm Stone will take on the strongest William Reid Stakes for years with eight Group 1 winners of 12 Group 1 races, headed by Jimmysstar, Tropicus, Baraqiel, Magic Time, Jigsaw and Devil Night.
The Price and Michael Kent Junior trained five-year-old mare won the G1 Manikato Stakes first-up last spring at Moonee Valley.
Price said she is in similar form and suggested she will try and replicate that performance in terms of the tactics they will use from barrier three.
“She will take a forward position and take luck out of the equation as she did in the Manikato.
She’s been springing the gates; she will put herself there,” Price said.
“She has had a brilliant preparation and she’s reasonably fit. If the race sets up well for her, she will be in the money.”
“I’m confident she will run very well.”
Charm Stone is $16 with Unibet and will be ridden by Tom Stockdale.
Ciaron Maher is also bullish about the prospects of the $2.25 favourite with Unibet, Jimmysstar, who kicks off a three-run preparation.
Last year Jimmysstar finished third in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley when it was run on a soft leader-biased track, which didn’t suit him.
“I’ve been extremely happy with him all prep. He will run a pretty forward race,” Maher said.
Maher said Jimmysstar would have a three-run preparation with runs in the T.J Smith Stakes and the All-Aged Stakes to follow at Randwick before being spelled for the spring when The Everest is his main mission.
