Trainer Mick Price says he has been forced to abandon plans to run True Persuasion in the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.Price said he had given up on getting a flight this week to Perth for the four-year-old and that his decision to pull the plug on the trip was made easier when he drew an outside barrier in Saturday's $750,000 feature."The horse can't get a flight in this country and he'd drawn barrier 15 anyway so he's not going," Price, who has waited on flight confirmation a
Trainer Mick Price says he has been forced to abandon plans to run True Persuasion in the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Price said he had given up on getting a flight this week to Perth for the four-year-old and that his decision to pull the plug on the trip was made easier when he drew an outside barrier in Saturday's $750,000 feature.
"The horse can't get a flight in this country and he'd drawn barrier 15 anyway so he's not going," Price, who has waited on flight confirmation all week, said.
True Persuasion was a $14 chance with TAB Sportsbet.
Sydney five-year-old Whitefriars, who will be ridden by Damien Oliver, is the $4.60 favourite after his last-start Group Two Salinger Stakes win at Flemington.
West Australian Waratah's Secret was a last-start close second to Ma Ma Machine in the Colonel Reeves (1100m) and is at $5.50.
Waratah's Secret two starts ago beat veteran galloper Idyllic Prince in the Group Three Prince Of Wales (1200m).
Trained by Jim Taylor, Idyllic Prince was a gallant half-length fourth to Famous Roman in the Lee Steere Stakes on November 6 and is at $13 to win what could be his last race start on Saturday.
The winner of 14 of his 42 starts, Idyllic Prince has been a favourite on Perth tracks with earnings of $954,500 but he would have won much more but for two bouts of feet cancer.
Taylor's wife Tina, who part-owns Idyllic Prince, said the gelding was racing as well as ever but opportunities for him were drying up.
"This is probably his last start, or close to it," Taylor said.
"If the horse hadn't had cancer in his feet he could have been anything.
"He has had the cancer cut out twice and Jim just manages it.
"He doesn't go to the track and does all his work on the farm, I think if he had won one of the big races last year and got his million (in stakes) he would have been retired then.
"He gets weighted out of a lot of races now and he's getting on in age but we are hoping he can run well on Saturday."
Idyllic Prince has drawn barrier 14 and will be ridden by his regular jockey Jason Brown.