SATNESS DEFYING AGE – AND STILL WINNING RACES
HE’S the oldest horse in the stable – and he’s a 10-times winner!
Little wonder Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price love having Satness around.
The eight-year-old gelding took his winning record into double figures when successful at his home track yesterday.
A $6 chance and ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, Satness defeated $3.90 favorite Feazabeel and Erina ($4.20) in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).
Gosford trainer Adam Duggan’s Erina was attempting a hat-trick after winning her previous two starts at the Beaumont track (August 25) and Tuncurry (September 11).
Satness was having his 79th start, has also been placed on 25 occasions, and has earned nearly $550,000.
Whilst it took him 13 starts – after six straight minor placings – to break through in a 1600m Gosford Maiden Plate in June 2022, he has been a marvellous performer for Team Price.
Satness, a son of Sweynesse and the Mossman mare Satanya, was bred in New Zealand and was passed in at the 2020 Inglis Ready2Race sale in Sydney as an unraced early two-year-old.
“When Satness wasn’t sold, his breeder Mr Muollo gave him to us to train,” Luke Price said today.
“It’s fantastic to win 10 races (seven of them at home) with him.
“Satness is sound and as tough as teak.
“He is a gross fellow and we have to program his races because of the way we train him.”
Satness bounced back from a last start fifth on the inside Illawarra Grange track in a 1450m Benchmark 64 Handicap nine days earlier.
But the stable didn’t hesitate to back the gelding up.
“The track was firm that day, and Satness looked after himself,” Luke Price said.
“He had done well since, and there was no problem backing him up.
“Satness is such a great horse to have around the place.
“He loves his routine, and enjoys being in the stable.”
Satness has won on all types of ground; seven on good, two on soft and the other on heavy.
Team Price had hoped for a Kembla Grange double, but had to play “second fiddle” in the closer, the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
Fellow Kembla Grange trainers Mitch Beer and George Carpenter scored with Peleus (Van Overmeire) who, as a $3 favorite, edged out Me Me ($4.80).
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Azure Angel ($16) was a close third.
Me Me was having her fourth run back and should soon be back in the winning list again, whilst Peleus was resuming and notched his second success (along with two placings) from four starts since joining Team Beer.
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan was the sole provincial winner at Rosehill Gardens yesterday with track specialist Annie’s Rose.
Ridden by Reece Jones, Annie’s Rose ($6.50) burst along the inside to overhaul Lulumon ($21) and Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s $3.50 favorite Mercy Me in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).
It was the six-year-old mare’s third victory from as many starts at the track.
Fellow Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi and leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees were winners at today’s Port Macquarie Cup Prelude meeting.
Dilmi’s $8 chance Warm Front (Grant Buckley) upset Gosford trainer Adam Duggan’s $1.55 hotpot Purple Haze in the Super Maiden Handicap (1506m), whilst Lees scored with $1.85 favorite Newy (Aaron Bullock) in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1204m).
The Flying Artie four-year-old is part-owned by a group of Newcastle Jockey Club members.
Bullock rode a treble, also winning the first two races on Markwell Topsport ($3.40) and Triple Yes ($2.05 favorite).
Lees’ talented colt Under Focus ($13) was a gallant third in yesterday’s $1m Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens yesterday, and the trainer also had dual success in Queensland at the weekend.
Little Beginnings ($4.60), scratched from the Toowoomba Cup meeting yesterday, won the Open Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast with stable apprentice Ben Osmond aboard.
Lees also was successful at the Sunshine Coast today with the Australian Bloodstock-raced three-year-old Preethical ($2.15 favorite) in the 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m), having only his second start.
Newcastle apprentice Liberty Smyth also was a Port Macquarie winner today, scoring on Golden Copper ($11) in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1506m).
. Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe combined with apprentice Shannen Llewellyn to land a good-priced double at today’s Dubbo Cup fixture.
The pair won the Super Maiden Handicap (1400m) with Velocette ($10) and Class 1 Handicap (1300m) with Easy Trapezee ($14).
STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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