Racing: Spacecraft may rise to occasion

Photo / Thinkstock

Four-year-old Spacecraft has been living up to his name with some aerial work in preparation for the group three Easter Cup at Caulfield today.

Fearing that the entire may have been becoming jaded, Price has schooled Spacecraft over jumps to refocus him for today's 2000m feature.

"He's a bull and I just think a bit of variety is what he needed," Price said.

"He might have been getting in a comfort zone in his work and just going through his motions so we gave him a bit of schooling.

"He's not good at it but I think it has probably served its purpose.

"His last couple of gallops we sat him off a working partner and he's gone straight past it."

Spacecraft joined the Price stable last winter and in his first campaign won three races in row.

He has been competitive at his five runs this campaign including a third to stablemate Heart Of Dreams and Precedence in the St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

Last start, the son of Galileo finished a long neck third to Base and Anudjawan in the Visvanathan Memorial Plate (2000m) at Caulfield on March 26.

"I think this is a good race for him based on his last 2000m effort," Price, who won the 2009 Easter Cup with Miss Maren, said.

Spacecraft led in the race but Price wanted a more conservative ride today from Craig Newitt who replaces apprentice Ben Knobel.

"I didn't think he needed to lead the other day," Price said. "He needs to be covered up and if he can get that sort of ride and he can relax he should hit the line pretty well."

- AAP