By Glenn Davis
Unbeaten colt Green Belt will be out to progress an “American experiment” for the Victorian training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Green Belt won his maiden over 1600 metres at his first start at Cranbourne on January 2 before winning against his own age over the same trip at Sandown on January 19.
Price believes Green Belt is vulnerable after drawing barrier 13 but expects the three-year-old to improve sharply after his first Queensland hit-out.
“He’s a lovely colt but he’s drawn badly so he’ll be a bit vulnerable first run up there,” Price said.
“It’s a big jump in grade for him and he went forward both times when he won.”
Green Belt is one of half a dozen American-bred yearlings the stable has acquired in the past two-and-a-half years and was $105,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale.
“He’s a lovely colt and is one of half a dozen horses we bought in America as yearlings,” Price said.
“Michael (Kent) has got some good contacts in the United States and a couple of the yearlings we bought have very good pedigrees.
“He’s been part of our American experiment buying horses there in the past few years.”