Sabaj swivels to All-Star Mile

The Sharp EIT The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday is 'second choice' for Sabaj after a bad blood picture forced him to miss the TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last week.

Sabaj had been on a path to the TAB Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28 via the Blamey and the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday week, knowing Pride Of Jenni was All-Star Mile bound.

"Originally, we wanted to go Blamey, Peter Young, Australian Cup," Price said.

"We thought that was the best option because if Pride Of Jenni is at her best, she is unbeatable.

"I don't know if she is, but whenever she is in a race, they can be upset races.

"Who is the horse that carts up?

"Those races are so unusual when Pride Of Jenni is blasting away, but because we had a bad blood count, we've ended up in the All-Star Mile, and I'm not sure whether we end up in the Australian Cup after that or not."

Price said Sabaj had an inflammatory marker pop up in his blood, adding that he never starts a horse with that type of marker.

He said Sabaj was back in good health and from a good draw, he expects the gelding to run well, although he won't be the one being the lead-up horse as others try to bridge the gap on Pride Of Jenni.

"He'll be around there somewhere at the finish, but everyone needs her to have an off day," Price said.

"If you have horses behind you and only Pride Of Jenni in front of you, it's a tough gig, but I don't think that will be us.

"I'm not sure who it is, and that is why it can be an upset race. You can only ride the race you are in, not Pride Of Jenni's race.

"If she capitulates, you're on, if not, no-one beats her."

Price said he had been wanting to test Sabaj at 2000 metres, and felt the TAB Australian Cup was the right race to do that.

But with the 'hiccup', he does not know whether Sabaj will get to that race and he may need to wait for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick next month.

The Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) may be an option in the lead up.

"He's a good miler on a big track but plans are up in the air because we had to divert," Price said.

"I've been keen to try him at 2000 metres because I think he's got that tempo about him and if they do get 2000 metres, it opens up more options.

"He could end up in the Queen Elzabeth, or he could go to Queensland, but we were going to find out a but in the Australian Cup."