Mick Price has opted to dodge Saturday's Group Three D C McKay Stakes at Morphettville with Gran Sasso who will stay at home and run in the Pink Ribbon Cup at Caulfield.Gran Sasso was one of the 20 nominations for the McKay (1100m) but Price said if the five-year-old won the Pink Ribbon Cup (1200m) he would have a shot at the Group One Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 2."He's having a jump-out in the morning," Price said."Rather then going over and back to Adelaide twice, I thought it wa

Mick Price has opted to dodge Saturday's Group Three D C McKay Stakes at Morphettville with Gran Sasso who will stay at home and run in the Pink Ribbon Cup at Caulfield.

Gran Sasso was one of the 20 nominations for the McKay (1100m) but Price said if the five-year-old won the Pink Ribbon Cup (1200m) he would have a shot at the Group One Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 2.

"He's having a jump-out in the morning," Price said.

"Rather then going over and back to Adelaide twice, I thought it was in his best interests to run at Caulfield on Saturday and if he wins he'll be going to Adelaide for the Goodwood," Price said.

Since being transferred from the retired Brian Mayfield-Smith, Gran Sasso has had four starts but Price said he found the 1400 metres too far when he could finish only seventh of nine to Delayedreaction Listed Anniversary Vase at his latest outing at Caulfield on March 20.

The gelding was beaten less than a length when a first-up fourth behind Here De Angels, Lucky Secret and Rostova in the Group Three Rubiton Stakes and was beaten a length when sixth to Starspangledbanner in the Group One Oakleigh Plate, both over 1100m at Caulfield.

Two starts back, like all the back markers in the Group One Newmarket Hcp (1200m), Gran Sasso didn't get into the race when 13th to Wanted at Flemington on March 6.

Stephen Baster will ride Gran Sasso on Saturday, while stablemate Nine Tales will also resume in the Pink Ribbon Cup, a race Price won last year with El Mandon.

Nine Tales hasn't started since winning the Group Three Sandown Stakes (1500m) on November 14.

There are 40 entries for the Pink Ribbon Cup including Falaise, Benelli, Skiddaw Peak, Time Matters and former Western Australian galloper Proart who will be making his debut for the Mark Kavanagh stable.