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FATHER and son Rob and Luke Price have all but sealed a hat-trick of Kembla Grange premierships.And Team Price also appear set to clinch Horse Of The Year honours with Zaragoza, one of their trio of winners at home today.

The treble with Zaragoza ($5), Commanding Belle ($1.85 favorite) and Mr Rock It ($2.70) boosted the Price tally to 21 winners for the season in the local Trainers’ title (decided on winners) – five ahead of closest rival Mitch Beer, who had one winner today.

There is only one meeting left on Saturday week to ring down the curtain on Illawarra Turf Club’s 2024-25 racing year.

The Price boys already had the All Trainers’ premiership in the bag (decided on a 3, 2 and 1 points basis for first, second and third with each Kembla Grange race) and added another 11 points to further extend an unassailable lead.

Zaragoza’s victory in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) earned him eight points in the HOTY title, and took him to 40 points for the season, one ahead of stablemate Invade And Conquer.

The latter is already in the paddock, and co-trainer Luke Price says the former is also likely to have a break and be aimed at the feature The Gong metropolitan Saturday stand-alone meeting at Kembla Grange in November.

A former Godolphin gelding, Zaragoza was initially purchased for $60,000 online in May last year and subsequently resold in February this year for $47,500.

“Strong Bloodstock is a good supporter of our stable, and was keen to be involved in racing Zaragoza when he was sold again,” Luke Price said.

“This was his third win for us, and he has been very consistent.

“I feel he has more to offer next season, and his rider Keagan Latham was impressed with him today.”

Zaragoza was one of three winners for Latham, who has another Kembla Grange premiership safely in the bag.

A five-year-old by Street Boss, Zaragoza shouldered his 60kg in great style to edge out fellow Kembla Grange trainer Ross McConville’s pair C’mon Mate ($16) and Donwon ($7).

C’mon Mate’s apprentice rider Coriah Keatings later pleaded guilty to a charge of using the whip on nine occasions (four more than permitted) prior to the 100m, and was fined $600 by RacingNSW stewards.

Team Price’s other winners were Commanding Belle (Brock Ryan) in the Maiden Handicap (1300m), and Mr Rock It (apprentice Holly Durnan) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

A $160,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase last year at the Gold Coast, the two-year-old filly could find herself back there in January for the annual Magic Millions carnival.

“Commanding Belle is very exciting,” Luke Price said.

“We have always held a good opinion of her, and she has plenty of upside.

“We will talk with her owners and decide future plans.”

A daughter of Golden Slipper winner Farnan, Commanding Belle was having only her fifth start, and had resumed with an excellent third in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at home on June 21.

She took natural improvement from that run, and appreciated getting up to 1300m today.

Despite beginning awkwardly and racing keenly in the middle stages, Commanding Belle was too good for Aura ($9) and her stablemate Zoustrong ($13).

Five-year-old Mr Rock It, also a Magic Millions yearling buy in 2021 for $45,000, appreciated apprentice Durnan’s 3kg claim to post his fifth career success – and three have been on his home track.

“He wins a race every preparation and deserved that today after being placed at his three previous starts,” Price said.

Whilst Durnan added to Team Price’s premiership lead over Mitch Beer, she “squared up” by also winning for her master on Denial ($3.50) in the Midway 3YO Maiden Handicap (1200m).

The lightly-raced former Victorian and son of dual Group 1 winner Impending was having his first start since joining Beer’s stable.

It was a mixed day for Durnan, who was also fined $500 by stewards for not riding fifth placegetter Lucky Bay (narrowly beaten for fourth) out to the line in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m).

Story John Curtis, July 17, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos