12 Oct 2018Ontrack Thoroughbreds’ classy Tavistock colt Tavisan is ready for his grand final when he tackles the $2 million Group One Caulfield Guineas.
Tavisan was purchased out of the Karaka Premier Sale by Ontrack’s Grant Morgan in 2017 and since arriving at Mick Price’s Caulfield stable has had four runs for a Cranbourne win and placings in listed or group races at Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley.
“He was a very precocious type when broken in and we actually tackled a couple of group races in New Zealand with him as a two-year-old but things didn’t work out due to wet tracks or bad draws,” said Ontrack Thoroughbreds Managing Director Grant Morgan.
“Tavisan made great progress from two to three and he arrived over from New Zealand and hasn’t looked back since joining Mick’s stable.
“His form from a series of bad barrier draws has been excellent and his run for second in the Guineas Prelude two weeks ago was all the evidence we needed to proceed to the grand final.
“The nine barrier is not ideal but he has good early speed and if rider Michael Walker can get over from that gate without expending too much energy I’m confident the colt will run well.
“Tavisan is the first partnership between Ontrack and the Dubai-based Phoenix Bloodstock and it’s great to achieve such good results from our first association,” said Grant Morgan.
Mick Price won the Caulfield Guineas last year with Mighty Boss and he’s confident Tavisan is a genuine chance of repeating the success.
''He should have the run of the race. We were hoping to draw inside four or five and have a conservative cuddle in the run, but it's not to be from that barrier as we will have to make a little bit of use of him,'' Price said.
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''Hopefully we are not exposed too much. He is hard fit, he is thriving and I couldn't have him any better but he's got to be good enough on the day. His form lines are good.''