TEAM Price has done it again, emulating last season’s home track feat by clean-sweeping the three Kembla Grange titles they were eligible for.
And the pleasing part for co-trainer Luke Price is that he and his father Rob have improved on last year’s results by winning more races and as a result amassing more points.
The Price boys have trained 25 winners at home so far this season, more than double last year’s number of 12, ahead of Saturday’s final meeting of the 2023-24 racing year to easily defend their local trainers’ title.
With a whopping 140 points (also far greater than last season) on a 3, 2 and 1 basis allotted in each race for the three placegetters by Illawarra Turf Club, Team Price has also romped to another victory in the All Trainers’ premiership, leading Sydney champion Chris Waller by 67 points.
To add to their dual trainers’ results, Team Price also has won the Horse Of The Year award; Headstock (34 points) carrying on from stablemate and last year’s winner Satness.
Headstock gained the maximum eight points to seal the award by taking a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) at the last meeting on July 18.
“It was good to see him do it as well as he did,” Luke Price said on Friday morning.
“That was his third win this season for one of our good supporters in JJJ Racing, and all have been at home.”
Notwithstanding Team Price’s domination, the father and son team isn’t resting on their laurels.
“It’s been a good season for sure, but our goal is to keep improving,” Luke Price said.
“We always want to look ahead, and not back.”
The Prices have plenty of runners at the season curtain closer on Saturday, and have finalised engagements for dual acceptors Monte Tiana and Defying.
The former contests the 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m), with Robbie Downey to ride, and Defying has been withdrawn from that race to run in the CG&E Maiden Plate (1300m), and has Alysha Collett in the saddle.
Luke Prince has named a pair of Downey rides, Monte Tiana and Zaragoza (Class 1 Handicap, 1300m), as two of the stable’s best prospects to end the racing year in winning style.
“Monte Tiara drew the outside at her last start just over a week ago, and didn’t have the best of runs when a close third over 1300m,” he said.
“The extra 100m suits, and she is back against her own age (three-year-olds).
“We are putting a brow band on the former Godolphin horse Zaragoza.
“He can rear in the barriers, and we’re hoping this will help keep him settled.
“Zaragoza comes back from a strong Benchmark 78 Handicap in town earlier in the month (runner-up Jedibeel bolted in at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday) to a Class 1 Handicap at the provincials, and should be hard to beat.”
. The current Kembla Grange premiership standings and Horse Of The Year award are:
ALL TRAINERS (3, 2 and 1 points)
R. & L. Price 140
C. Waller 73
J. Cummings 64
P. & P. Snowden 61
C. Maher 56
KEMBLA GRANGE TRAINERS (wins)
R. & L. Price 25
K. Parker 7
B. Smith 7
R. McConville 4
M. Beer 4
T. Bateup 2
JOCKEYS (3, 2 and 1 points)
K. Latham 96
A. Collett 73
G. Buckley 66
T. Schiller 65
J. Van Overmeire 62
APPRENTICES (3, 2 and 1 points)
Z. Lloyd 39
O. Chambers 29
Z. Wadick 29
M. Bourke 24
HOTY (8, 5, 3 and 2 points)
Headstock 34
Bully For You 29
Herb 27
Spirit Of Varanasi 26
All Machiavellian 26
Story John Curtis, July 26, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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