Trainer Mick Price says he is still feeling his way with imported English mare The Miniver Rose who is being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.The four-year-old, who still has her summer coat, had her first public hit-out for Price when she finished second to last-start Flemington winner Moudre in a 1200-metre trial at Geelong on Monday.The Miniver Rose has won two of her nine starts, including the Group Two Hill Stakes (2920m) at Doncaster on September 10 last year and was fifth to Star

Trainer Mick Price says he is still feeling his way with imported English mare The Miniver Rose who is being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

The four-year-old, who still has her summer coat, had her first public hit-out for Price when she finished second to last-start Flemington winner Moudre in a 1200-metre trial at Geelong on Monday.

The Miniver Rose has won two of her nine starts, including the Group Two Hill Stakes (2920m) at Doncaster on September 10 last year and was fifth to Starfala in the Epsom Oaks.

Price faces a challenge to get the best out of the daughter of High Chaparral who hasn't had time for an acclimatising preparation in Australia since being bought by Peter Carrick's Lakeview Resources from 340,000 guineas (about $A600,000) at England's world famous Tattersall's December Sale.

"I haven't got time to give her one run in a preparation and then spell her completely so she can acclimatise," Price said.

"We have just got to chink her through the spring and go for the Cups.

"We haven't attempted to dash her up until now but she has worked home in half mile jump outs and finished midfield."

"She is a real staying mare and a tough High Chaparral with a tough temperament."

Champion jockey Damien Oliver rode The Miniver Rose at Geelong and she settled back second last in the five horse field with Moudre behind her.

Both horses made their runs together with Moudre scoring easily by 2-1/2 lengths.

"She (The Miniver Rose) is a real 2400 and 3200 metre horse and Ollie didn't do a lot on her," Price said.

"I didn't want her to get banged up as she was here to have a good experience."

"She's had a blow and has blown up over the back."

Price said that The Miniver Rose may trial again at Cranbourne next Monday before making her Australian debut, most likely in a 1400-metre mares' race.

Meanwhile stablemate Spacecraft will have his first start for Price in the Falvelon Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on August 14 and could end up contesting the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in October.

Ridden by Oliver, the rising four-year-old was also at the Geelong trials and posted a 3-1/2 length second to Greg Eurell-trained maiden galloper Bay Of Poets in one of the fastest trials of the day.

Formerly trained by Danny O'Brien, Spacecraft has raced seven times and is a dual city winner noted for his long neck second to Hanks in the Group Two AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley last spring.

His only placing in three autumn runs was in the Listed Zeditave Stakes.

"He is a nice, strong, athletic colt and it is just a matter of how good he is," Price said.

"He has had a really good preparation and he might be a Toorak horse."

"Today he had a nice clean-out with being pushed too much."