Final Deadline enters frame for New Zealand Cup

By Adam Hamilton 

Emerging star Final Deadline could give Queensland a three-pronged attack on November’s New Zealand Cup.

Already Leap To Fame and The Janitor are close to locks for the big race and now trainer Shannon Price has touted a trip to Addington after Final Deadline’s dazzling $100,000 Group 2 Redcliffe Cup win on Saturday night.

Importantly, Final Deadline began brilliantly from the standing start at Redcliffe and smashed the track record in second gear.

“After he began so well from the standing start to win last night (Redcliffe), Adam (Sanderson, driver)) texted me saying ‘NZ Cup?’ … I haven’t replied yet,” Price said.

“It’s something I’ll consider. We’d have the time for a good break after winter if we decided to go that way.

“I know it’s going to be very strong, but this horse is only going to keep getting better.”

Price bought Final Deadline from NZ in the middle of last year. Racing as Deadline he won two from eight for trainer Tom Bagrie.

“I decided I’d buy myself a nice horse and looked through the replays of those big four-year-old races Got The Chocolates and Marketplace were dominating and found this guy,” she said.

His last start in this country was a fifth behind Marketplace and Got The Chocolates in the Garrards New Zealand Sires' Stakes 3YO Colts and Geldings Final.

“They wanted too much when I first asked, but came back a few days later with a fairer price so I bought him.

“It was a bit rushed getting him here for the three-year-old races, but he came back after a spell and has thrived.”

Price was moved to say Final Deadline is potentially the best horse she has trained.

“He’s Speak The Truth and Sure Thing Captain rolled into one, in that he’s got the strength and the speed, but now it’s a matter of how far he goes,” she said.

Speak The Truth is a serious benchmark, having won 23 races and almost $900,000. He ran second to Leap To Fame in last year’s Inter Dominion final and third in the 2024 Miracle Mile.

Final Deadline steps up another level now for the star-studded $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.

“We’re going to find out more and quickly," Price said, “this Rising Sun is such a strong race. It’s almost a mini Miracle Mile with a group of horses who will be challenging Leap To Fame after this.

“Look at the form lines through the key runners like Captains Mistress, Marketplace, Hollywood Stride, Fox Dan and now my horse. It’s amazing.”

And, under the preferential barrier draw conditions, Final Deadline will have to draw outside Captains Mistress because she is a mare and Hollywood Strip, who is a three-year-old.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “Last night he pretty much won in second gear, so he’s got more to give and he’ll need to.

“It’s going to be a fantastic race.”

The winner of the Rising Sun will land a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final on July 18.

“Let’s get through the Rising Sun and if we win it, we’ll think about that decision then,” Price said.

“The Redcliffe Cup and Rising Sun were the main (winter) targets, we’ve won one and now we’ll chase the second one.”

Final Deadline capped a big night for Price, who also won the Redcliffe Trotters’ Cup with the honest Hide And Seek.

“It was a great night,” she said. “He’ll go on to the Inter Dominion and I’m sure he’ll be competitive, but Gus looks a bit of a standout.”

Price is having Speak The Truth checked over this week before finalising his Inter Dominion plans after a disappointing Redcliffe Cup run.

“Nathan (Dawson) wasn’t happy with his run, but his previous run was good, We’ve got two weeks to get him right,” she said.