A peach of a ride from jockey Ben Melham saw the Phoenix Thoroughbreds co-owned Tavisan home in front at Caulfield on Saturday, May 30.
Melham judged the pace perfectly as the Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior trainee made every single yard for the fifth win of his career. Having broken with his usual gusto from the barriers, Tavisan was front and centre throughout. Relaxed in his running he found plenty when asked to go and win his race at the top of the straight and in truth never really looked in danger of being passed. The victory sees the gelding surpass $320,000 in career earnings and Price feels he is just coming into his own.
“We work them and we trial them and we get them pretty fit,” Price said. “So fitness isn’t usually a problem, but with him, he’s a burly horse and he’s taken a while to get fit. I can’t do anything other than use the races to get him fit. This should be his time of year and we’ll keep racing him in similar races throughout the winter.”
The trainer also reserved some high praise for his rider after Mleham had pleased his case to ride more for the inform stable.
“I thought his reasons were good and I’ve always admired him as a jockey and he has never ridden better,” continued Price. “It was a beautiful polished ride and he’s one of the better riders, no doubt.”
Tavisan completed a double for the Price and Kent outfit after Right You Are won earlier in the day.