Crack The Code wins at The Valley (Image: Racing Photos)
Late December is not often a good time to be making plans to attack the autumn riches but trainer Mick Price saddled two such winners at The Valley on Saturday.
Both are three-year-old fillies but Crack The Code and Oceanex won’t be clashing anytime soon as Crack The Code shows rare sprinting qualities while Oceanex ‘’has Oaks filly written all over her’’.
Price said the I Am Invincible filly Crack The Code had potential to develop into a quality sprinter by the time the autumn comes around after having just her third start on Saturday.
"I reckon if we can get her rating up in January and in February the carnival is upon us and I think she will train on," the trainer said.
"She’s always been an immature filly but she’s quite robust. If we can get her rating up and come February and March she’ll be in the stakes races.
"She gives me the impression that 1200 metres is plenty. There are a lot of races there for her."
WATCH: Crack The Code wins at The Valley
Crack The Code, who started the $3.50 favourite in the Ladbrokes Benchmark 70, came from midfield but once clear in the straight, powered home to beat Soul Star ($9.50) by a length and three quarters with a short half head to Freeze Over ($4.80) in third place.
Price said he wished he had more of the progeny of stallion I Am Invincible, who stood for $11,000 in his first season in 2010 but stood for $192.500 in 2018.
"I think he’ll be the best stallion at the Magic Millions," Price said. "He will butt heads with Snitzel and obviously his deeds speak for himself as he just keeps going up and up and up."
Rider Damien Oliver said Crack The Code was heading the right way.
"She showed some class as a two-year-old and she had a little wind issue last time but Mick put her aside and she’s come back well," he said. "It was pretty impressive. A nice win."
Price only had to wait another 40 minutes before Oceanex confirmed her rating as a staying filly in the making when she finished strongly to take the Benchmark 70 over 1600 metres as the $2.20 favourite.
"She’s going the right way for sure and I liked the way she balanced up, flattened out and found the line," Price said of the daughter of Cox Plate winner Ocean Park.
"We’re going to plot a course towards the Oaks races and I think we’ll be looking at Sydney, sending her through races like the Vinery.
"She’s got that good Kiwi staying pedigree."
Price said that to make it to the rich classics in the autumn, Oceanex might have to add to her record, which reads as two wins and two placings from her four starts.
"She might need to win another race to get her rating and prize money up so while she’s going so well, I’ll find another suitable race and if she can win, we can then give her a little break before the autumn."
WATCH: Oceanex wins at The Valley