He may well have unveiled his leading Magic Millions Classic (1200m) prospect in yesterday’s exciting winner Nordic Empire but Caulfield trainer Mick Price isn’t losing sight of Australia’s two other feature juvenile races. Price nominated Exceed And Excel colt Jabali and Duporth colt Cornrow, who each made a cameo appearance during the Spring Racing Carnival, as his leading early chances in the $1 million Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and the $3.5 million AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m), reports Racing Victoria.

“I’ve got a couple of really nice colts now,” Price said. “Jabali that ran second in the first two-year-old race (Maribyrnong Trial Stakes) behind Tony McEvoy’s horse (Risen From Doubt), who is really good, is one we love. And the horse that ran on Cox Plate Day, he ran nearly on the way down, that Duporth horse Cornrow.”

Jabali was beaten just over two lengths by the exciting Risen From Doubt in his Flemington debut on 5 October, a race in which subsequent Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) winner Boomwaa was third.

Cornrow’s form can also be tied back to Boomwaa, having beaten the Robbie Laing-trained juvenile by a length when running third in the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m), won by South Australian visitor Silversands, at Moonee Valley on Sportingbet Cox Plate Day.

Price said each had derived benefit from their respective outings and had enjoyed their time in the paddock with his home-track Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on 22 February the obvious target.

Click here to view the first declarations for the Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes.

 “The timing on Jabali and Cornrow will be absolutely ideal for the Blue Diamond and maybe the Golden Slipper,” Price said.

“We’ve been able to have a run and then a nice break and we’ll catch them on the way up again.

“So Cornrow, Jabali and this horse (Nordic Empire) are the three at the moment that are big, strong and natural.”

Meanwhile, Price reported Nordic Empire had come through yesterday’s win in good order and would likely freshen up at owner BC3’s Connewarre property before tackling Wyong’s $200,000 Magic Millions Classic (1100m) on 19 December en route to the 11 January Gold Coast feature.

“He’s about one out of five shin shore in one near front this morning,” Price said.

“I think there are areas of improvement in the horse because he is a bit light.

“I’d love to think he can win a Magic Millions but I’ve just got to construct six weeks of his program so I’m thinking he might go back down to BC3’s Grace Park for seven to 10 days to see if we can freshen him.”

Click here to read more about Nordic Empire’s win in Saturday’s Flemington Equine Clinic Plate (1000m).