COSTLY BUY BREAKS THROUGH AT HOME – AND HOW

HE cost $900,000 as a yearling – and after five frustrating seconds is at last on the board.

And Monte Veebee’s co-trainer Luke Price feels his rout of rivals at his home track at Kembla Grange today will “flick the switch” to take him to higher honours.

Beautifully-bred three-year-old Monte Veebee ($1.55 favorite) at his ninth start was the day’s easiest winner – by a widening six plus lengths – in the Midway Maiden Plate (1400m).

His victory completed a double for Price and his co-trainer father Rob, and their great clients, former trainer Vic Bates and his wife Yvonne.

The combination had won the opening event at Gosford’s Saturday metropolitan stand-alone meeting with four-year-old mare Monte Kate ($6.50) in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).

“Dad left at 7am to take Monte Kate to Gosford and I was pretty confident we could get a couple of winners today,” Luke Price said this evening.

“It was terrific to get a double for Vic and Yvonne, who continue to be wonderful supporters of our stable.

“We very nearly got a treble ($3.60 second favorite Invade And Conquer was pipped on the post by $2.60 favorite Hyperbolic in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1400m at Kembla Grange).”

Price said Vic Bates was determined to get a good colt at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, hence his purchase of the Snitzel youngster, who is the first foal of four-times winner and Group 2 placegetter Snogging, a daughter of I Am Invincible.

“Vic later at the same sale also tried to buy Autumn Glow (the currently unbeaten daughter of The Autumn Sun, who fetched $1.8m), and I believe he was the underbidder,” he said.

Monte Veebee came back this time as a gelding and that, plus the removal of blinkers for today’s race, played a significant part in his breakthrough.

“After finishing second first-up on the Kensington track in March, we took him to Albury on April 17 for a Super Maiden, which also was one of those $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus Series races,” Price explained.

“As he was coming back from 1300m in Sydney to 1175m at Albury, we put blinkers on him.

“However, it didn’t work (he ran second as a $1.22 hotpot to Dubai Darling).

“So we took them off and substituted blinkers for today’s race.

“The way he stretched out in the straight to trounce his rivals reminded me very much of his sire Snitzel.

“I’m sure getting his first win will boost his confidence, and that he can now go on to better things.

“We’ll see what his benchmark rating is and then decide on another race for him.”

Montee Veebee’s runaway success was the first leg of a treble for jockey Grant Buckley, who also scored on $16 chance She Conquers and Hyperbolic (ironically Invade And Conquer’s conqueror).

Buckley took bad luck out of the equation by leading on Monte Veebee, who cleared out over the last 200m to defeat stablemate Glitterscript ($41).

Price also was delighted to see Monte Kate, another Bates’ buy ($400,000) under their Roughwood Park banner at the Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale the year before Monte Veebee was secured, return to the winning list.

Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, she defeated Duck Egg Blue ($4) and $3.90 favorite Trafalgar Square.

It was the I Am Invincible mare’s fourth victory, and Price also considers there are more to come.

“Even though that was her 18th start, she still does a little bit wrong,” he said.

“She settled well and found plenty today, and appeared to win with something in hand.

“There’s a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) against her own sex at Rosehill Gardens at the end of the month which should suit her.”

Story John Curtis, May 10, 2025 - Pics Gosford Race Club