Darry Sherer
In the colours worn by former Caulfield Guineas and champion sire Redoute's Choice, Mighty Boss has scored a shock win in the A$2 million classic for three-year-olds.
The Mick Price-trained colt was an emergency for Saturday's 1600m race and gained a start following the scratchings of Summer Passage and Eclair Sunshine.
Sent off the $101 rank outsider under Michael Walker, Mighty Boss got up on the inside to score by a neck in front of Kementari ($5.50), with the $4.40 favourite Catchy a length further away in third.
Price parted with NZ$180,000 at New Zealand's premier yearling sale in 2016 and was able to keep 10 per cent of the ownership.
"If you look at the horse he's a bit blond and a bit flashy and I thought all the good judges won't be liking that," Price said.
Price always held Guineas ambitions for Mighty Boss right from when successful in a Sale maiden in July.
For Walker the Group One win was the result of hard work after being sidelined through injury for a large part of the year.
He required a back operation and has only been back riding during the past two months.
"Over the last two or three years I've had six months on, two months off with operation after operation," Walker said.
"My weight got out of control when that's happened but my body's strong at the moment. I'm light and I'm hungry."
Walker has been riding work at Caulfield every Tuesday since his comeback.
After winning on Main Stage at Flemington last week, he walked past Price asking if there was a chance of getting a ride on a good horse in his stable.
"He said, 'I don't have any', but I said don't worry, I'll keep turning up every Tuesday," Walker said.
"This is a huge thrill. Whenever I've had lean times he's always been a great supporter."
Price purchased Mighty Boss from the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore draft.
"He and Tulip were amongst the annual group of yearlings that we chose to bring over from Coolmore to offer in our draft at Karaka,” Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham said.
“He was a horse with plenty of natural strength and I was very happy to secure him for our draft.
“I'm delighted for Mick Price who has trained a number of horses from our farm with great success".
Price has trained seven stakes winners sourced from Curraghmore, including fellow Group One winner Velocitea and Alsiter Clark Stakes winner and VRC Derby placegetter Pre Eminence. -AAP, NZ Racing Desk