It is the home of some of Australia best trainers, a place where the magic of prepping a horse takes place while most people are asleep. But on Friday 28th September 50 lucky miRunners owners joined trainer Mick Price for an insider’s view of a morning training session.
It was an overcast start to the day but as owners arrived to the Mick Price Racing gate at Caulfield there was an air of optimism and excitement. They were about to go where even sole owners barely went.
With a quick roll call and a serious reminder of the safety concerns when walking through the stables, and along the path to the centre field training tower next to nearly 75 horses each weighing upwards of 500kg. Owners were tracing the steps of Mick Price.
Walking through the barn owners were checking the stalls to find their girl and naturally there was a hold up when they found her, ready to take to the track just for them.
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Then it was time to surprise the jockey’s on their return from the track in the tunnel out to the track – never had any of them seen quite so many owners in just one horse.
Finally owners were greeted by Mick Price and the training team at the tower. It really was a birds eye view of the entire track. Each horse trotted up before entering the track for its work out. Each horse was assessed and instructions confirmed with the jockey. It was quite astounding to see not just Mick Price but every single member of the team recognise all 75 horses in work at that time by sight, by program and by the expectation for the morning.
When an owner piped up and asked Mick “how do you keep track of them all?” Mick was quick to respond, “everyone who is on the team learns every horses name and can recognise them instantly, it doesn’t matter how many horses there are. It doesn’t matter if the horses are new to the stable and we don’t know a lot about them yet. If the team doesn’t know who, what and where then they will not be working with these horses.”
And just like that owners realised just how involved and how committed every single member of the team at Mick Price Racing is. Their track record is incredible, with half the horses of many of the large stables, this team delivers a strike rate second to none.
While the owners then waited for Shezawitness to enter the track Mick Price took the floor and started answering questions owners had submitted. There was no shortage of great questions and Mick took time with all of them, even the ones about which horse to back in upcoming races!
As the answers flowed owners had another revelation about Mick Price – the man was brutally honest. Owners were going to know exactly what was happening with their horse, mud and all.
Shezawitness then trotted up under the careful guide of his jockey Tim. Naturally a few extra laps were needed for all the owners to see their filly and just how much she had matured over the months since leaving Emeran Park. Shezawitness was still young but owners could see her new strength through her chest and developing strong hindquarter.
Next came a moment of pressure, Mick even uttered under his breath, “with this many owners I hope she jumps well”. Naturally Shezawitness performed like a pro, entering the barrier well, then jumping cleanly followed by a strong run at the required tempo. It was a professional showing by the young filly.
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Then it seemed the morning was almost over and all that remained were precious photos with this dedicated and honest trainer who welcomed all these owners into the stable. And of course a selfie with Shezawitness in the barn before she was washed down after her morning run.
You can become an owner with miRunners today with available thoroughbreds in training in Queensland and New South Wales for just $275 per unit and $15 a month for the first unit and $5 for each additional unit.
Tony Gollan will train the stunning Your Song X Sheeznodoubt filly, full sister to recent winning Hollaback Girl, and you can purchase units in her here.
Bjorn Baker will train the Rubick X Slainte filly, out of the new season Sire on fire Rubick, and you can purchase units in her here.
