KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - David Hayes can add to his fantastic spring carnival with another group-one success by either Super Kid or Niconero in today's Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
Hayes has already won six group-one races this season, the same number he had at the highest level for the whole
of his first season back, in 2005-06, after a 10-year career in Hong Kong.
His group-one winners this spring are Tawqeet (The Metropolitan and the Caulfield Cup), Miss Finland (1000 Guineas and VRC Oaks), Fields Of Omagh (Cox Plate) and Rewaaya (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes).
Hayes has named former Hong Kong galloper Super Kid as the better chance of his pair in the Emirates, a race he won three years running with Planet Ruler (1992), Primacy (1993) and Seascay (1994).
His late brother Peter won it the following two years with Seascay (1995) and Miss Margaret (1996), while his late father Colin won the race once with champion Better Loosen Up in 1989.
Seven-year-old entire Super Kid failed badly last start when a 28-length last to Casual Pass in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 14 but Hayes said there was an excuse.
"He tied up behind and was very uncomfortable after the race," he said.
"He pulled up with a muscle spasm so we put him in the paddock and changed his diet and put him on the treadmill and did some different sort of training and he seems to have responded.
"He's in great order. He's probably the stable elect."
Super Kid will be ridden by Craig Williams while Dwayne Dunn will ride Niconero, who struck interference at the start when sixth to Emirates rival Flash Trick in the Waterford Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley on October 28.
Meanwhile, Mick Price is hoping to top off a satisfying carnival by winning the Emirates with Perfectly Ready.
Price said he had won six group events since August which was his quota for the whole of the previous season.
"You've got to be happy with that," he said.
"And I did get a little bit excited at the 100m in the Cox Plate," he added, referring to watching Pompeii Ruler kick clear before winding up a close third to Fields Of Omagh and El Segundo.
Perfectly Ready goes into the A$750,000 ($865,000) 1610m feature as the last-start winner of the group-three Harrolds Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 21.
But the big query with the More Than Ready 4-year-old is whether he can get today's distance.
"He's had one try at 1600m in the very wet Caulfield Guineas that God's Own got home in and beat Paratroopers," Price said.
"He ran sixth in what was his first try at the mile as a spring 3-year-old.
"He's a robust 4-year-old now and he's had a good preparation.
"I'm hoping there is good pace in the race as he's going to need a bit of luck to get in somewhere [from barrier 12]."
Glen Boss retains the Perfectly Ready mount, having scored on the horse last start.
Perfectly Ready is at A$10 with TAB Sportsbet, behind Mackinnon Stakes winner Desert War, who is the A$5 favourite, Divine Madonna at A$5.50, Bentley Biscuit A$7 and Seachange at A$7.50.
Price said he was expecting the pace to be right on today.
"It wouldn't surprise to see Desert War try to steal the race and and we won't be far away."
- AAP