An emotional Mick Price and birthday boy Craig Newitt celebrated the biggest day of their careers when Pompeii Ruler won the Australian Cup on his home track at Caulfield yesterday.
A lightly raced 4-year-old, by Japanese bred stallion Genuine, a son of the great Sunday Silence, Pompeii Rulerhas made the transition from racing in 3-year-old handicaps last season to be a Group One weight-for-age performer this season.
"I can't think of the last horse to get there as quickly as this horse. It's unusual, but we had a big rating on him last spring and tried to win the Cox Plate," Price said.
The big chestnut led well into the short Moonee Valley straight in the Cox Plate before going down to Fields Of Omagh and El Segundo, but Price knew he had a serious horse and set him for the Australian Cup, which was his first Group One victory at his 12th race start.
"These are the races you have to win," Price said.
"It's a time-honoured race. He's been with me since he was a yearling and the owner [owner-breeder Brian Coyle] has been with me since day one. I stuck with C Newitt when he got into trouble.
"This is my best win."
The gelding's next mission will be in the Sheema Classic (2400m) at the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 31.
Price has had his ups and downs. One of his worst experiences was when Roedean was disqualified from her 2003 Blue Diamond Stakes victory after a positive swab.
It was the best day of Newitt's career too. The jockey was disqualified for 18 months for telling lies to stewards. He also rode Miss Andretti in the Newmarket.
