Show A Heart claimed the first Group 1 of the season last month when Toorak Toff won the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill and he may well claim the next two at the elite level at Caulfield this Saturday.
Rightfully Yours will be one of the strong fancies in the $350,000 G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and his younger brother Heart Of Dreams will be looking to make it back to back victories in the $350,000 G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The Mick Price trained stablemates have plenty in common. They are by Glenlogan Park sire Show A Heart from the Royal Academy mare Academy Of Dreams and are raced in partnership by owner-breeder Larry Bartle.
Bartle welcomed another Show A Heart – Academy Of Dreams colt at Glenlogan Park on September 1. The mare is a grey but her latest foal is a bay, just like his older brothers, with a big white star on his forehead.
Rightfully Yours returned from a spell in fantastic fashion to claim the $100,000 Listed Clamms Seafood Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 28. He was expected to find the 1100m a touch too short first up but he pinged the barriers and sat in a wonderful spot right in behind the speed and always appeared in control of the race.
Jockey Glen Boss admitted that he had got a terrific feel from the Show A Heart gelding on the way around to the barriers and he could tell he had brought his A-Game to the races and was going to be super hard to hold out.
“He just bowled around to the barriers and I could feel how strong he felt underneath me,” Boss said. “There was no question he was going to explode when I wanted him to and I really just had to sit and steer.
“It was a pretty awesome display and there is a really nice race in this fellow and he may just be in for his best preparation yet.”
Rightfully Yours has come through his first up victory in tremendous order and will be one of the genuine chances for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on his home track at his favourite distance.
Heart Of Dreams was having his second run back from a spell when he ran last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking to a long neck in the $400,000 G2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 4. The son of Show A Heart has always peaks at his third run back from a spell and Price will have his charge spot on this Saturday.
Jockey Damian Oliver was thrilled with the Heart Of Dreams at Flemington and is eagerly looking forward to a rematch with Shocking and company at Caulfield. “I think it can be a different story when we get back to our home track over 1800m and if the ground is a little drier,” Oliver said after the race. “We were caught wide in the run without cover and, as they were racing well away from the rail, we had to cover plenty of ground.
“We hit the front a bit too early as well but he was travelling so strongly I had little option. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the other horse coming and we were swamped before he really had a chance to respond.
“But he showed how much he loves a fight by coming right away from all the others. Shocking was only one finishing better and he had had a lovely run in transit. It was a terrific effort and he is right on track to defend his Underwood crown.
Meanwhile, Toorak Toff is ticking over in preparation for his grand final in the $1 million G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 9. Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has nominated the Show A Heart star for the G3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield this Saturday.