LEADING Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price aren’t shy about having a crack at star fillies Orchestral and Zardozi at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
In what shapes as an enthralling Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) contest, the Price boys will run their Kembla Grange Classic runner-up Our Gold Hope.
Newcastle’s gun apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who rode the filly when runner-up to Queen Of Dragons in their home track Group 3 Classic (1600m) on March 15, partners her again.
“Orchestral and Zardozi have been the standout fillies of the season,” Luke Price said this morning.
“But they can’t win all the time, and there are a couple of fresh fillies ready to take them on.
“Our filly is one of them. Even though she is a sharp filly, we’re confident stepping up to 2000m won’t be a problem.
“She will be strong at the end as she was in the Kembla Grange Classic.”
A $180,000 buy at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, Our Gold Hope is a daughter of Lope De Vega.
She is the first foal of the More Than Ready mare Grey Queen, who was exported to France last year.
Our Gold Hope has raced only six times for two wins and three placings, and has recouped more than half of her purchase price.
Whilst Our Gold Hope holds an entry for the $1m Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 13, a start in the fillies’ Group 1 classic will hinge on her Vinery performance.
The Vinery will mark the Australian debut of outstanding New Zealand filly Orchestral, who has won five of her eight starts, including the last four in a row.
The daughter of Savabeel thrashed the “boys” in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 2 at her last start.
Godolphin’s classy Sydney filly Zardozi (by Kingman) has won six of her 11 starts, including a dominant victory in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 9.
At her second run back, she won the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 16.
Team Price has qualified Victory Lane, who races in the same colours as Our Gold Hope, for another $1m feature at Randwick during The Championships - the Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) on the same day as the Oaks.
Victory Lane was well backed to start $4.20 favorite when runner-up to Ruby Flyer in last Saturday’s 1400m Qualifier at home.
Brock Ryan rode him then, and stays with the gelding in the Final.
He has ridden Victory Lane in two of his three wins; a breakthrough 3YO Maiden Plate (1300m) at Warwick Farm in December 2022 and Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange’s metropolitan The Gong meeting on November 25.
The father and son combination ran third with $26 chance Liveinthefastlane (Craig Williams) to Cristal Breeze in the 2021 Final, and also qualified both Noble Joey and Budderoo Knight for the 2017 Final.
Noble Joey ($21), after winning the Wyong Qualifier, ran fifth to Maryore, and stablemate Budderoo Knight ($71), runner-up in the Hawkesbury Qualifier, finished 12th.
Story John Curtis, March 26, 2024 - Pics supplied