THEY’VE won their home track’s richest race, and now have set their sights on adding tomorrow’s Peroni Kembla Grange Classic with a filly who will carry the same colours.
Leading local trainers, father and son Rob and Luke Price, are looking forward to running lightly-raced Our Gold Hope in the $250,000 Group 3 Classic (1600m) for three-year-old fillies, and Newcastle’s gun apprentice Dylan Gibbons rides her for the first time.
The Price boys landed the $1m The Gong over the same distance with ill-fated Count De Rupee (Brock Ryan) in 2021, and Our Gold Hope is also raced by the Noble family, who paid $180,000 for the daughter of Lope De Vega at the Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale in 2022.
“We have specifically targeted the Kembla Grange Classic with her,” co-trainer Luke Price said this morning.
“And with three runs back this preparation, she is ready to run a PB on her home track.
“Our Gold Hope was ridden out of her comfort zone at her last start when third to Mare Of Mt Buller and Colours Of Autumn (rivals again tomorrow) in a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 28.
“The owners were keen to book Dylan for tomorrow’s race as he in such good form, having won Listed races at both Royal Randwick and Canberra last weekend.
“Our Gold Hope has drawn midfield and needs to find cover in what looks to be an even field.
“She isn’t an overly big filly, but is very tough and looks to be overs at her current price ($34 with TAB.com.au on Thursday morning).”
Our Gold Hope beat subsequent Canterbury winner Countyourblessings in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) at Hawkesbury on February 13 before her Rosehill placing.
As joint trainers, the Prices have had only one previous runner in their home track’s autumn highlight – and that was $151 bolter All Tiara, who ran 13th to Pohutukawa in 2019.
Sydney filly Mare Of Mt Buller is also an acceptor for Saturday’s Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens against the “boys”, but Colours Of Autumn (Chad Schofield) is a definite runner.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has opted for blinkers on the daughter of The Autumn Sun, who is progressing nicely.
“She is ready for them, and has worked well in them at home,” Widdup said.
A $380,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling, Colours Of Autumn has raced six times and broke through in a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1350m) on the Beaumont track in mid-December.
As with Our Gold Hope, she has been nominated for the $1m Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13.
Widdup also accepted with Noble Tess (Alysha Collett), but she drew awkwardly and may instead run at Gosford on Saturday in a Class 1 Handicap (1600m).
Widdup has had four previous runners in the Kembla Grange Classic without success.
They were Dancers (5th at $41 in 2018), Icebath, $51 and Akari, $5 (6th and 7th in 2020), and Youthfull (8th at $81 in 2022).
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees also has decided on a gear change for his representative Kind Words (Sam Clipperton); the only other provincial representative in the field.
Blinkers come off the Written Tycoon filly, who was runner-up in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at home in November before a break.
. The rail is in the TRUE position for the eight-race program, which begins at 1.05pm.
Course manager Dave Anderson this morning posted a “Good 4” rating. No rain has been recorded this week, but 5mm of irrigation has been put on the track in the last 24 hours and a total of 15mm in the past week.
. Story John Curtis, March 14, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
Michael Craig’s selections for the meeting are:
Race 1 - 3 King Carlos fought on strongly at only start
6 Suspect should run another good race
1 Hellbetta looks a big chance fresh.
Race 2 - 2 Draco’s Fire only just run down at Scone
7 Chentileeno will be hard to hold out
1 Brazil continues to improve.
Race 3 - 2 Insider Trader continues to perform over this trip
1 Notabadbuy looks the likely leader
5 Wilshire Boulevarde comes in handy at the weights.
Race 4 - 10 Kirragirl hard to dismiss on only 2 starts
14 Media World 2yo who appears very promising
7 Ternini big effort when longshot at only start.
Race 5 - 6 Garza Blanca should perform well first up
1 Waihaha Falls fresh from a short break
4 Astero capable of a big performance.
Race 6 - 2 Owari resuming and this trip should suit
5 Tamaroa drawn wide but will be working home
14 Montebello’s Charm nice effort when resuming.
Race 7 - 2 Tutta La Vita has excellent form in top grade
3 Harlow Mist very promising middle distance galloper
9 Seafall has improved sharply with every start.
Race 8 - 1 Vain Invader good run in stronger company last start
7 This Is The Moment working towards a win
2 Victory At Omaha could be hard to run down.
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