FOR trainer Mick Price and a group of New Zealand breeders, the overriding temptation to start in the Cox Plate became a real dilemma yesterday when former Kiwi galloper Alamosa took out the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
The stallion was sent to Australia specifically to win a group 1 race and bolster his profile for a forthcoming stud career - a challenge Price accepted with open arms.
After mixing competitively against weight-for-age company, Alamosa quickly adapted back to handicap conditions and scored with ease in yesterday's group 1 event.
"I've been very excited about this bloke," Price said. "He hasn't put a foot wrong and probably at the start of his campaign he was in the shadow of Light Fantastic[also trained by Price], but after today he's underlined what ability he has.
"I was so confident of him being in the finish today; his work had been faultless and the only change I really made was to take the blinkers off him but I was so happy for the owners.
"We always had the Toorak Handicap in mind and I know that the Cox Plate is a $3 million race in two weeks' time but I just don't know if Toorak form stacks up against Cox Plate form."
Jockey Craig Newitt admitted he thought he was "home and hosed" at the 600-metre mark when the field started to pack for the run to the post.
"His work has been really special leading up to today and I knew if we got a touch of luck at a vital time he would be right in the thick of things," Newitt said.
"But at the 600m mark I was just sitting there thinking I've got this won. It is a great feeling when you are 200m from home and you haven't let him down. I'm not a fan of taking him to the Cox Plate, I'd rather see him wait a couple of weeks."
Alamosa firmed from $10 in to $9 and scored by a length-and-three-quarters from $17 chance Rockwood, and Pillar Of Hercules ($16) a length back in third. While Alamosa was a clear drifter from $7 to $11 in the closing stages of betting, a strong move came for the four-year-old.
The favourite in a wide-betting race was $8 chance Orange County, which finished a disappointing ninth.
Jockey Damien Oliver said "the wide gate, the big wait and the mile [1600m] probably found him out".
Runner-up Rockwood had the best run outside of the winner. "He ran great, he was terrific in the closing stage but Alamosa was clearly too good for us on the day," jockey Steven King said.
Alamosa's victory atoned for Price's unlucky defeat earlier in the day with Pompeii Ruler in the group 1 Yalumba Stakes.
Price said he would hold a conference with the group of New Zealand breeders who owned Alamosa and recommend that instead of starting the horse in the Cox Plate, they should wait for the Emirates Stakes on the final day of the VRC Carnival.
Pillar Of Hercules trainer Peter Moody said the horse had "matured" and would also be set to race in the Emirates Stakes.
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