TEAM PRICE HOPING FOR “GOLD” IN COOLMORE CLASSIC

THE price is wrong!

Co-trainer Luke Price says market assessors have discarded their mare Our Gold Hope as a winning chance in tomorrow’s $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Runner-up in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm last winter, Our Gold Hope was the $101 rank outsider with TAB.com.au this afternoon.

“Definitely not entitled to be those odds,” Price, who trains the mare in partnership with his father Rob at Kembla Grange, said during this afternoon’s Kembla Grange Classic meeting.

“They have probably judged her that way because she pulled up 3/5 lame in her off foreleg at her last run at Randwick a fortnight ago.

“However, she is fine and was cleared by RacingNSWstewards earlier this week to go back to the races.

“There is no way Our Gold Hope is a $101 chance, and we’re delighted to have Ash Morgan riding her again.

“Ash is riding in great form.”

Morgan was Our Gold Hope’s partner when she won a Midway Maiden Plate (1200m) at home on debut last October, overpowering her rivals from 10th at the 400m.

Morgan has been back on the mare at her last two starts; sixth to Firestorm in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 25, and then a late closing fifth to Coolmore rival Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick a week later.

A cross-over nose band goes on Our Gold Hope, who is the sole provincial representative, for her Coolmore assignment.

Meanwhile, Team Price decided to bypass today’s $250,000 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) with their smart three-year-old filly Island Dec.

“She over-raced last time in the Group 1 Surround Stakes(1400m) at Randwick (won by Coolmore favorite Lady Shenandoah),” Luke Price said.

“So we chose to forget about our home track Classic and freshen for her the PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick next month.

“She will trial at home leading into that race.”

The $250,000 Group 3 PJ Bell, for three-year-old fillies at set weights plus penalties, will be run on Day 1 of The Championships (April 5).

Island Dec, a daughter of Kermadec, has won three of her only six starts.

Meanwhile, fellow Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker was in the winner’s circle with recent acquisition Otono at today’s Classic meeting.

Having only her second start for her new trainer and ridden by Jay Ford, the four-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun, as a $6 chance, unwound a strong burst over the last 200m to defeat Perfect Justice ($7) and Victory At Omaha ($18) in the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

Otono also has won three of her six career starts, and races in the Proven Thoroughbreds colours.

Story John Curtis, March 15, 2025