Speak The Truth Photo by Dan Costello
SHANNON Price will do whatever she can to dodge Leap To Fame, even if that means going to New Zealand.
Price loves her stable star Speak The Truth, but concedes Leap To Fame is just too good for him, at least at this stage.
So, when Leap To Fame pulled out of a planned trip across the ditch for next month's $NZ1mil Race By Grins on April 12 in Cambridge, Price quickly switched focus to the race.
"I think it's 7-0 Leap To Fame's way against us, so wherever we can go for feature races and avoid him is a big plus, especially for prize money like that," Price said.
It's been a whirlwind past month for Price, who was bewildered and even a tad annoyed Speak The Truth has not gained interest in slot holders in the Race By Grins or the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor in Perth before she took the five-year-old to Sydney for a crack at the Miracle Mile.
Speak The Truth brilliantly won his qualifier with a career-best performance and time and had to be content with a brave third to his nemesis, Leap To Fame, in the Miracle Mile itself last Saturday week.
"Things changed quickly," Price said.
"Straight after the Cordina (qualifying race) win, John Green rang me and pleaded with me to partner with their slot for the Race By Grins, then another slot owner rang about the NZ race, too."
"Soon after, a slot owner from Perth was on the phone with a really good offer to go to the Nullarbor (April 19) instead of Cambridge.
"There was a lot to weigh up, but he's a January foal, and we think he's still six months away from being fully mature and ready at this level, so a hit-and-run raid to NZ instead of what would've been two big races in Perth is best for him now."
Asked if Speak The Truth would have gone to Perth rather than NZ if Leap To Fame wasn't in the Race By Grins. "I think that would be a yes," Price laughed.
Speak The Truth steps out at Albion Park on Saturday night for what could be the first of two lead-up races before heading to Sydney for a flight across to Auckland on April 7.
"We'll firm up plans after this week. We'll know if he needs another run, maybe a trial up here or even just a workout down at Menangle before he gets on the plane. There's lots of options," Price said.
Beyond the Race By Grins, Price surprised by saying she may skip her home state riches of the Queensland Constellations winter racing and give Speak The Truth a long spell.
"Leap To Fame will be in the big races here in winter," she laughed. "It could be the right time for him to have a good break after NZ."
"We could look at a race like the NZ Cup (in Christchurch) in November as a long term aim."
"I just know he's still a bit behind the other big guns for maturity and should only keep developing and getting better over the next six to 12 months."
