After struggling in stakes company, Island Dec chasing return to winner’s stall

It’s back to basics for talented filly Island Dec at Canterbury on Wednesday, with co-trainer Luke Price keen to get her campaign back on track after a couple of misses in stakes company.

The three-year-old scored a first-up win at Canterbury in February and was then thrown in the deep end in the group 1 Surround Stakes before a freshen-up and her last start eighth in the Group 3 PJ Bell.

Price said the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m) is an opportunity for Island Dec to return to the successful formula of settling back, and coming with one run, which has seen her win three of her seven starts.

“She’s been jumping on the bridle and just charging,” Price said. “She did it so well first-up over 1250m, she switched off and attacked the line and won with a bit in hand in lesser grade.

“I’m going to keep things as simple as possible for her. I think we’ll get genuine speed coming back to 1100m and I think it will work.”

In the PJ Bell, Tommy Berry was able to settle Island Dec a little closer in the run, but she didn’t react as well as expected and was beaten 3-1/2 lengths by She’s Got Pizzaz.

“You’ve got to get everything right, those one per cent things you can’t do wrong in those races,” he said. “I’ve had all the gear on her and the slower speed in those races and getting cluttered up doesn’t suit her, and it takes that back end away.”

James McDonald was initially booked to ride Island Dec, but when he was suspended in Hong Kong on the weekend, Tyler Schiller was snapped up for the ride.