Stratcombe will continue his racing career as a colt after he scored the most impressive win of Monday's Mornington meeting."He stays an entire. He's a horse to follow," trainer Mick Price said.Price was preparing Stratcombe for life as a gelding if the three-year-old didn't deliver on his potential."I think he might be a stakes horse in the future, but we need to get his rating up," Price said.The Stratum colt, who was purchased for $200,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, was b

Stratcombe will continue his racing career as a colt after he scored the most impressive win of Monday's Mornington meeting.

"He stays an entire. He's a horse to follow," trainer Mick Price said.

Price was preparing Stratcombe for life as a gelding if the three-year-old didn't deliver on his potential.

"I think he might be a stakes horse in the future, but we need to get his rating up," Price said.

The Stratum colt, who was purchased for $200,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, was backed from $1.50 to start $1.40 favourite in the J B Medical Lasers Handicap (1213m).

Ridden by Craig Newitt, the chestnut won as he liked, clearing out for a three-length win over Break The Habit ($71) with Clinches ($18) finishing third.

Stratcombe raced only once as a two-year-old when runner-up to Eclair Mystic over 1200m at Caulfield at his debut in April last year.

He has now raced four times for two wins and two city placings, his other win being by seven lengths in a Wangaratta three-year-old maiden when resuming after a 13-month break early last month.

"He's had some issues at the barrier," Price said.

Price avoided running him in Saturday's Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington, believing the better option was Monday's Melbourne Racing Club meeting.

"He can charge in his work and you have to be a bit careful with his temperament," Price said.

"He just needs to work by himself and get a little bit more relaxed about it.

"He's a quiet horse but he can have a fire cracker quirk in him.

"But I think with a bit of racing he'll give that away."

Newitt took riding honours at the meeting, making it a double aboard the Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Snitza ($5) in the Long Island Country Club Handicap (2419m).