Callanish (NZ) A Rising Talent for Mick Price

Leading Victorian trainer Mick Price looks to have unearthed another rising talent by Fastnet Rock with his four-year-old entire Callanish extending his unbeaten record to five at Sandown yesterday.

Stepping up to a mile for the first time, Callanish (ex Dancing Doll) looked in control at every phase of yesterday’s race for jockey Dale Smith, settling on the rail just off the pace before powering away in the straight to win by a comfortable one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Mick Price has taken his time with the son of Fastnet Rock and was impressed with last night’s winning performance.

“He raced well last night and has been making his way through the grades,” commented Price. “We have taken our time with the horse to get him used to racing and putting as little stress on him as possible.

“He probably has another three starts in him this campaign and we will look to give him one more race at restricted level or in a Saturday handicap before stepping him up to black-type.”

Price purchased Callanish, a half-brother to Group 3 winner Hofmeister, from Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud for $320,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale.

“We love coming to the Karaka Sales and purchasing horses. New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world for buying horses and the people are great.”

“We had to pay a little bit for Callanish as he was a nice colt and he is giving his owners a good ride,” said Price. “He’s a talented horse but he is quite a quirky horse and we have put a lot of effort into his behaviour.

“We have managed to get him into a pattern of stress-free racing which has been important for his development and, as long as he keeps learning and remains settled in his racing, I think he will take the step up to 2000 metres very well which gives us plenty of options.”

Price has enjoyed success with Karaka graduates in the past such as Pre Eminence (Encosta de Lago), purchased from Curraghmore Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $320,000.

“Pre Eminence was a nice horse and won the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes, Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes and was placed in the Group 1 VRC Derby,” said Price.

A three-quarter sister to Callanish by Duke of Marmalade was purchased by Rosehill trainer Tim Martin from Curraghmore Stud for $40,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale.