Jacquinot, ridden by Damian Lane, ahead of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Image: Racing Photos)
Star galloper I’m Thunderstruck will follow a familiar autumn campaign path next year according to Mick Price.
The five-year-old has been nominated for the $5m All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley in March with Price confirming the stable is also considering a return to Sydney to compete in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) despite the potential for a heavy surface.
“He’s not a great wet tracker so I suppose we’re ambitious maybe with that,” Price said.
“The two races which will be ideal for him will be second-up in the All-Star Mile and then the Queen Elizabeth.”
Price said the OTI Racing-owned Shocking gelding has returned to work in pleasing condition ahead of his training regime being ramped up in the coming weeks.
“He’s come back super, Matthew Chadwick rides him every morning and he was going blah blah about him for five minutes, I said, ‘you’ve only run a thousand evens on the big sand, settle!’,” Price said.
“Matthew said he just felt fantastic, so yeah, good.”
Fellow Group 1-winner Jacquinot has also returned to work at Cranbourne ahead of his autumn preparation with Price saying he too has returned in great shape.
“He’s perfect, he’s got more weight on him albeit that he’s been one of those really framey, athletic, clean-winded type of horse,” Price said.
“I reckon he’ll run in the two 1400-metre weight-for-age races, he might run in the (Group 3) Manfred (1300m) first-up maybe. 1400 metres is a good distance for him, his ideal distance."
Although Jacquinot is untried over the mile, Price said a tilt at the G1 Australian Guineas could not be ruled out for his star colt.