PRICE IS RIGHT FOR AISLE TWO IN KEMBLA GRANGE CLASSIC

MULTIPLE premiership-winning Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price weren’t far off landing their home track’s fillies classic in 2024 with runner-up Our Gold Hope.

Two years on the father and son team has taken a line through their subsequent Group 1 Queensland Oaks second placegetter to be in an excellent position to go one better tomorrow with Aisle Two in the $250,000 Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).

Team Price ran Aisle Two in the same lead-up race – a 3YO Fillies’ Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens - which Our Gold Hope (third) contested, and she came out better.

Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, who partners Aisle Two again tomorrow, the lightly-raced daughter of Shooting To Win was strongest at the finish in rolling well-backed favorite Soverato on February 25.

“We could have waited to run Aisle Two in a 1400m race at home nearly a week later, but I’m glad we took the same option as with Our Gold Hope,” co-trainer Luke Price said today.

“It proved a good trial as Aisle Two ran the 1500m right out, and has done well since.

“She has a good gate (barrier three) tomorrow, and we’re glad to have Adam on board again.

“Perhaps the only query about her chances is a genuine wet track as it isn’t drying out.

“But she handled the wet ground well when she galloped here last week.

“Aisle Two has won three of her last four starts and was an excellent second at Canterbury, so she goes into the Classic in top form.

“She is fit and ready to run well again.

“We’ll get through tomorrow first, but there may be another run in the locker this campaign at the Sydney autumn carnival.

“Aisle Two could go to the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28, or be freshened for the Group 3 JHB Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 18 (like the Kembla Grange Classic, both are for three-year-old fillies).”

Aisle Two is in the market at $15 for the Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, but will not contest a Qualifier.

Team Price won their home track’s richest race, the $1m The Gong (1600m) with Count De Rupee in 2021, but the Kembla Grange Classic has so far eluded them.

Aisle Two early this afternoon was a $6 second favorite behind Canberra trainer Nick Olive’s Melbourne Group 3 winner Spicy Lu (Nash Rawiller) at $4.

The Prices have trained seven winners at Kembla Grange so far this season, and trail Kerry Parker by one win in their quest for another local trainers’ premiership.

Fellow training partnership Mitch Beer and George Carpenter also have prepared seven winners at home, with Diane Poidevin Laine next with four wins.

Aisle Two is the sole local representative in the Classic, whilst Laine is hoping to get a start with second emergency Neferusobek.

The only other provincial runner is leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Satono Invader (Tom Sherry), having won her last two starts at Taree and Coffs Harbour.

Team Price has five runners at the meeting, with realistic chances in four races.

Along with Aisle Two, the stable considers Zougotme (Tommy Berry in the Provincial Maiden Plate, 1400m), Monte Kate (apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald in the Bert Lillye Memorial Handicap (1200m), and Satness (apprentice Claire Ramsbotham in the Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1400m) all as definite prospects.

. Illawarra Turf Club racing manager Zane Campbell said everything is in readiness for a great day’s racing, with the opener at 1.35pm and the Classic the seventh race at 5.20pm.

“The Classic is being sponsored for the first time by PFD Food Services, who have been a long-time sponsor with us,” Campbell said.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 12, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS