Trainer Mick Price changed just about everything he could in an effort to turn around the form of Alamosa in today's Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

Alamosa, owned by a syndicate of some of New Zealand's most prominent breeders, stormed home from worse than midfield to win the Toorak by 1¾ lengths fromthe Gai Waterhouse trained Rockwood ($17-$18-$17).

A handkerchief covered the next few runners with Pillar Of Hercules third, a length behind Rockwood and then short half heads covering Sea Battle, Raheeb and Valedictum.

Steven King, who had ridden Alamosa to defeat by an identical losing margin of 1.9 lengths at his three Australian starts, lost the ride to Craig Newitt, ironically finishing up on the runner up Rockwood.

Another change Price made was to switch from weight for age races to today's handicap conditions.

"We had to make a decision about the weight for age racing here", he said.

"The 1.9 lengths just wasn't with him."

"I had to make a few changes", he explained.

"No reflection on Steven King's riding."

"He's put him in the right spot three out of three."

Other changes made by Price were to take off the blinkers Alamosa had been wearing and giving him 4 weeks between runs as opposed to fortnightly trips to the races.

"That's all worked beautifully and I'm thrilled to see him win", said an elated "warm and fuzzy" Price.

He's not sure what it was that proved the key to Alamosa winning the race, but a superb ride from replacement jockey Craig Newitt must be high on the list.

"It was a beautiful ride", Price said.

"He drew badly, three deep with cover rear of midfield."

"The way that race was going to be run, three back with cover was probably out of all the traffic in the race though."

"The horse just came into it really good and he's just a really good mile handicapper."

Alamosa was syndicated by managing owner Bill Gleeson among a number of fellow New Zealand breeders, who sent him to Price to prove his stallion credentials.

"Those horses need a Group 1 Australian race to take back with them", Price said.

"I'm just really thrilled that he's hit the line in the right race."

"They all deserve their win and I can't thank them enough for giving me the horse."

"If you ask me I'd be sticking to mile handicaps", he said.

© Cyberhorse 2010 Bill Saunders Published 11/10/08