Masculino out to be the man at Moonee Valley

Brad Waters - Thursday September 7

Three-year-old racing in the spring requires a horse to take a step forward with every appearance and Masculino has a chance to do that at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Advertisement
Mick Price will give Masculino a shot at Saturday grade at Moonee Valley. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The Mick Price-trained colt has a Benalla maiden and a Cranbourne Class 1 win to his name but gets another chance in town in the Sweeney Handicap (1509m).

Price said Masculino is a developing type but the opposition will be significantly tougher in Saturday's $120,000 assignment.

"Masculino is a big leggy young three-year-old colt that is learning," Price said. "It's the time of the year when all of the good ones come out to play and I understand that.

"He has got to get around Moonee Valley but he'll be competitive and he's learning all the time."

Price said the Moonee Valley race attracted a certain type of three-year-old, which made the target more attractive than the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday week.

"You have got different formlines. The more grinding three-year-old comes here (Moonee Valley) versus the ones that will go into the Exford into the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and the Caulfield Guineas," Price said.

"I've tried to steer him into the lesser of the formlines but it will just depend on how he gets around Moonee Valley I think."

"Once he gets into the better three-year-old company, it might sort him out. I think he'll get a good 1600m but I'm not sure he'll sprint as well as the better ones."

Jake Noonan will retain the ride on Masculino on Saturday and was aboard the son of Smart Missile in a gallop with stablemate Special Diva at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.

Price said the pair produced "pretty good work" with Special Diva to contest the opening race of the day, the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (1600m).

The scratching of the Lindsay Park runner Mutamayel, who will run in Adelaide on Saturday, has pushed Masculino into $8 in CrownBet's market on the Sweeney Handicap.

Special Diva is also an $8 chance to win her race with Mark Zahra aboard.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Masculino goes from a boy to a man at Moonee Valley
Jockey Jake Noonan has made the most of his opportunity to stick with the Mick Price-trained colt Masculino, guiding the three-year-old to a fighting win at Moonee Valley.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.