QUEENSLAND Oaks runner-up Our Gold Hope will begin a new campaign at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday – but not with the intended jockey.
Leading Kembla Grange trainers Rob (pictured) and Luke Price will resume the four-year-old mare in the $250,000 Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).
Co-trainer Luke Price this morning confirmed Kerrin McEvoy would ride Our Gold Hope instead of Josh Parr.
“Josh has been on the mare in her two trials, and we felt he would suit her in races,” Price said.
“However, under the Quality conditions of the Southern Cross, she has the minimum (54kg), and unfortunately Josh can’t ride her.”
Our Gold Hope hasn’t started since a gallant and close second to Socks Nation in the Group 1 Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 9 last year.
“She had a slight setback afterwards, and we decided not to worry about the spring with her,” Price explained.
“We did bring her into the stable for a month, and then eased off again.
“Our Gold Hope is in great order, and the long absence away from racing hopefully has been a blessing in disguise.
“She is definitely ready to go back to the races on Saturday.”
The daughter of Lope De Vega has raced only 10 times for two wins and five placings. Aside from the Queensland Oaks, she was also runner-up in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at home against her own sex last March, and a close third in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) against the “boys” at Royal Randwick the following month.
Price feels Our Gold Hope has the potential to be a class “miler” this campaign.
“After the Southern Cross Stakes, she will go back against her own sex in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on February 22.
“There are a number of options after that with Group 1 features such as the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 15 and Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) and even the Doncaster Mile at Randwick during The Championships in April.
Thirteen horses have been entered for the Southern Cross, with last weekend’s Melbourne winner Coastwatch topweight with 59kg ahead of Newcastle sprinter Hard To Say (58kg).
Team Price also plans to start Mogwai (57.5kg in the Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1350m), and Noble Soldier (60kg in the Midway Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1350m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Beforehand, the stable has a busy day at the midweek meeting at home tomorrow.
Their representatives are:
. CENTURY SONG, Keagan Latham and ISLA D’AMORE, Ash Morgan (Midway Maiden Plate, 1300m);
. HEADSTOCK, Tyler Schiller and ALL MACHIAVELLIAN, Josh Parr (Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1300m; and
. MADAM RUPEE, Ash Morgan (Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1500m).
“Century Song looks our best chance,” Luke Price said.
“He has been placed at both his starts, and ran third in a Super Maiden (1010m) at Moruya on January 6 (second placegetter, Hawkesbury filly Zoutastic, won another Super Maiden at Wagga last Sunday), and had a nice tick-over 800m trial at Hawkesbury on January 20 when a close second.
“Keagan Latham rode him in the trial, and has got to know him.
“It’s not an easy race but he should be hard to beat.”
Story John Curtis, January 28, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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