Mighty Boss (Image: Grace Ramage)
Mick Price is launching a two-pronged attack of Mighty Boss and Hiyaam on Saturday's Group 2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at The Valley, with the two working at the track on Tuesday morning ahead of the 1600-metre feature.
The pair galloped together on the course proper, and Price was impressed by the work, especially that of the Caulfield Guineas winner.
"Mighty Boss is probably just getting as fit as you'll see him," Price said.
"Michael Walker was very happy with him, I was happy with him, he pulled up really good in the wind, had a solid 1200-metre gallop."
The son of Not A Single Doubt is second up into Saturday's race after finishing 11th of 16 runners last start in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes.
"I know he's only had one run but he's a lot fitter, done a lot more work with him, he's a bit gross, he can be a bit lazy in races but he worked good here (at The Valley)," Price said.
"Hiyaam chased him up, Hiyaam is sort of 2000-metre and 2400-metre, we know that from her form, she's beaten Unforgotten once and Unforgotten beat her once so I'm hoping that form holds up for my mare.
"I think she'll run well, she's going to be off the bridle Saturday but she was strong through the line in the 1500m and I'm sure she'll be strong into the race late Hiyaam.
"Out of the two of them, Mighty Boss has probably improved the most and he'll start to show up now.
"We're going to go past 1600m with him so he might end up in races like the Underwood and those sort of races, but there's also a Toorak Handicap there for him I guess, but I'm just keen to try him over 2000 metres and maybe beyond this prep."
Price is confident of a good showing from the four-year-old on Saturday, saying he expects him to be in the finish.
"Yeah I think so, he is second-up over a mile, it may just pinch him for fitness but as long as I see some improvement we're on the right track, which I think we will see, I'll be happy there," he said.
Hiyaam on the other hand looks to need the run but Price admitted to having big goals for the Group 1 winner this spring, confident she'd be competitive in a race like the Caulfield Cup.
"She'll from this point probably need her runs spaced a bit and I'm thinking I want to get her to the Caulfield Cup with no weight," he said.
"So maybe the Turnbull's a run where we have to use, it's traditionally the Caulfield Cup run for them, not that she'll be that well suited in that race but as a pattern of racing it will suit her anyway.
"She's going to be competitive in a race like that, she's very, very brave once she gets to a mile-and-a-half, she just needs to be ridden a bit more conservative."