LEADING Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price have “hope” in Melbourne ace Craig Williams providing them with a maiden Group 1 victory at the weekend.
Co-trainer Luke Price has confirmed Williams’ booking for their talented filly Our Gold Hope in Saturday’s $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Tim Clark rode Our Gold Hope in her last start fourth to Oaks favorite Scarlet Oak in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 25, but was unavailable for the fillies’ classic.
Williams, chasing his 78th career Group 1, rode the first in the 2000 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on Grand Echezeaux.
He has since won two VRC Oaks on Miss Finland (2006) and Brazilian Pulse (2010).
Our Gold Hope is a model of consistency, having raced nine times for two wins and four placings and has never finished further back than fifth.
Considering her record, she looked attractively priced at $26 with TAB.com.au on Monday pending acceptances being taken on Tuesday morning.
“Our Gold Hope has continued to do well at the Gold Coast,” Luke Price said on Monday morning.
“She will have her final serious gallop on the course proper on Tuesday morning, and all we want now is a good barrier.”
Our Gold Hope, a daughter of Lope De Vega (whose progeny quinellaed the Group 1 French Derby at Longchamps at the weekend), was a $180,000 buy for Price Racing at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale.
After finishing second in her home track Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) on March 15, she then ran fifth to classy Kiwi filly Orchestral in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 30.
Connections bypassed the ATC Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 30 with Our Gold Hope, and she headed north after finishing third to the males Kintyre and Gold Bullion in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick a week later.
Meanwhile, the father and son duo was pleased with two-year-old Smashing Time’s excellent fifth to Broadsiding in last Saturday’s Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
“He came from well back on the turn, but unfortunately couldn’t get in the right lane in the straight,” Luke Price said.
“He appears to have come through the Sires well, but we won’t make a decision until later in the week about pushing ahead to the JJ Atkins.”
The $1m Atkins carries Group 1 status, and will be run over 1600m at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
Impressive Sires winner Broadsiding is a dominant $1.90 favorite, with Smashing Time at $15.
Story John Curtis, June 3, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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