King Of Fighters will go a long way to stamping his Caulfield Guineas credentials if he is successful in a lead-up race at Moonee Valley.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old runs in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) on Friday night and has been labelled potentially the stable’s best three-year-old miler.
But in three starts to date, King Of Fighters is yet to win, however there is a school of thought the colt should no longer be a maiden.
On debut, King Of Fighters was defeated by Southport Tycoon which last weekend ran a place in the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield, while at his second start, King Of Fighters chased home the impressive Rackemann.
With blinkers added for the Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on September 16, King Of Fighters was an unlucky third, beaten just over half-a-length.
“Unfortunately, he’s still a maiden but we like the horse a lot,” Kent Jnr said.
“The blinkers went on last start, and he was awfully unlucky. I hate to say it, but he should have won.
“He’s pulled up really well and while it is a 13-day turnaround to the Stutt Stakes, he’s a very tough, sparky, vibrant colt that has done really well.”
Kent Jnr said King Of Fighters was potentially the best three-year-old 1600-metre horse in the stable and for that reason was likely to press on towards a start in the Caulfield Guineas on October 14.
“Whether that is good enough in his first preparation to win a Guineas, only time will tell, but he’s definitely a Group colt and he’s rapidly improving,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s really coping with the training.
“We thought up in trip, blinkers on and ridden to finish off would culminate in a better run last start.
“On the Tuesday morning leading into that Exford, he sat off one and went whoosh.
“It was excellent work and I think a tough mile at The Valley should suit.”