By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Aug 27 AAP - Glen Boss has warned followers of the Robert Smerdon-trained Breitling not to drop off him in Saturday's McNeil Stakes at Caulfield after his last-start failure.

Boss, who has ridden the Lonhro colt in each of his three starts and will be aboard him in the Group Three 1200m event, blamed himself for Breitling's sixth to Toorak Toff in the Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 14.

"I expect him to run a very forward race. I rode him pretty poorly the other day," Boss said.

"I just thought from a bad barrier (11 of 11), and that day there was a huge headwind going down the back straight, and I didn't want to be stuck out facing the breeze so I decided to ride him a bit quiet but it didn't really work.

"I got back and got to the inside on that track where you just couldn't go to the inside and things just didn't go right.

"I thought it was a pretty poor ride on my behalf."

Boss pointed out that Breitling beat Soul comfortably over 1000m at Caulfield two starts back and Soul subsequently was runner-up in the Vain, beaten just a head.

"Saturday will work out whether he's a Caulfield Guineas horse or not, but as far as the horse goes I think he has a very big future. I've got a lot of time for him," he said.

Breitling has drawn barrier one in the 11-horse field this time and is being kept safe at $5 with TAB Sportsbet behind Willow Creek ($4 fav) and Liveandletdie ($4.80), with Stratcombe next best at $6.

Trainer Mick Price is looking for Stratcombe to run on well at his first outing since an encouraging debut in April when runner-up to Eclair Mystic over 1200m at Caulfield.

"He's going really well. I've got a good opinion of him," he said.

"It's a tough race but he's improved from last preparation when he was a young, half bone-sore sort of a young colt.

"But he's improved out of sight so, if he can run into the first three, we are off and running into a Caulfield Guineas preparation."

The son of Stratum has drawn barrier two and will again be ridden by Craig Newitt.