TEAM PRICE HOPING FOR A “GONG MIRACLE”

LEADING Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price are “hoping for a miracle” to be able to chase another $1m feature triumph at home with the same team on Saturday.

The father and son combination clinched their biggest success with ill-fated Count De Rupee in the 2021 The Gong (1600m), the third running of Illawarra Turf Club’s richest race.

Their former apprentice Brock Ryan rode Count De Rupee, and is on standby to partner Our Gold Hope, who races in the same colours for the Noble family.

However, last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks runner-up is in real danger of making the field.

When weights were issued this afternoon by the RacingNSW handicapping panel, Our Gold Hope was 23^rd in order of ballot, with the minimum weight (53kg).

Sixteen horses can start in The Gong, with provision for four emergencies.

“We were hoping to get into the field with Our Gold Hope, but it looks as though we will need a miracle,” Luke Price said this afternoon.

“The mare is in really good order, and naturally we would like the opportunity to have a crack at The Gong again.

“If she doesn’t get a start, she will run in the Benchmark 88 Handicap over the same distance, and Tommy Berry (booked for Newcastle’s Tavi Time in The Gong) will ride her.

“We’ll have to cross our fingers and wait until the fields are finalised on Wednesday morning.”

Our Gold Hope, who was twice placed at Group 3 level in the autumn of 2024 before being narrowly beaten in the Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, also was Group 2 placed (to Ceolwulf) at Rosehill Gardens in April this year.

She has been freshened since finishing sixth (from a wide barrier) to Wootton Verni in the Group 3 Rosehill Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on November 1.

“Our Gold Hope had a few days off but worked on the grass before the races here last Saturday,” Luke Price said.

“Illawarra Turf Club is conducting a Breakfast With The Stars trackwork session for the first time in the morning, and Our Gold Hope will be one of eight horses we have to gallop.”

Despite the presence of last year’s winner and recent Big Dance winner Gringotts, who is understandably a short-priced favorite to repeat on Saturday as he has 61kg under the Quality conditions (he carried 62kg in the $3m Big Dance at Randwick on November 4), there was no shortage of entries for the $1m feature at the metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

Thirty-six horses were nominated, and obviously Gringotts heads the weights ahead of stablemate and last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (58.5kg).

Fellow Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker also is in grave danger of securing a start with Hawkesbury Ladies Day Cup runner-up Well Timed, who, like Our Gold Hope, also has the limit weight (53kg) and is 30^th in order of ballot.

Well Timed also has been entered for the “consolation” 1600m Benchmark 88 Handicap, for which nominations were extended until 11 am tomorrow.

Nominations for the $300,000 Group 3 The Warra (1000m) and F&M Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) also were kept open until 11 am Tuesday.

In a revised The Gong market today following the closure of entries, TAB.com.au retained Gringotts as a dominant $2.30 favorite, with only two other horses under double figures.

They are Estadio Mestalla, an eye-catching sixth from the extreme outside gate (16) to stablemate Coal Crusher in last Saturday’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle, who is $4.50 second favorite.

Tavi Time is third favorite at $6, after that it’s $13 Duke De Sessa.

Story John Curtis, November 17, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos