TEAM PRICE IN WINNING VEIN AT HOME

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TWO meetings at Kembla Grange in the new season – and Rob and Luke Price have had winners at both.

There’s a long way to go obviously in the 2026-27 racing season, but the father and son team has made a good start to reclaiming the local premiership.

Having won the title for three consecutive years, Team Price lost out to another local training combination, Mitch Beer and George Carpenter, in the season recently completed.

First-up specialist Me Me’s successful resumption yesterday followed Zaragoza’s triumph (and a stable quinella with Satness running second) at the opening home meeting a week earlier.

Mitchell Bell replaced an indisposed Keagan Latham on Me Me ($3.40 favorite) in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) – and made no mistake.

Me Me was too good for leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Seven Days ($3.50) and fellow Kembla Grange trainer Anthony Mountney’s Duck For Cover ($5).

A $50,000 Inglis Classic yearling purchase in 2022, now six-year-old mare Me Me’s two career victories have both been fresh, and she has also been placed on seven occasions from 16 starts.

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In fact her only failure from five first-up attempts was at her debut at Kembla Grange in June 2024 when she ran last of eight runners, beaten 15 lengths, in a 3YO Maiden Handicap (1200m).

“She pulled up shin sore that day and went for a break,” Luke Price said today.

“But she definitely performs well fresh with those two wins and another two placings when resuming.

“Me Me is a lovely mare with a dynamic turn of foot.

“We will keep her for races at 1200m to 1300m, and she can definitely win again.”

. Whilst Team Beer missed out at home yesterday, Captain Fenkel (Dylan Gibbons) provided them with a Wyong Cup runner by taking the 2000m Prelude there today.

Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Captain Frenkel ($2.40 favorite) came off the bit at the 600m, but rounded up the small field to defeat Anythink Goes ($3.60) and Steel Blaze ($18) to guarantee a berth in the $250,000 Big Dance Eligibility Listed Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 4.

“Captain Fenkel has been a good addition to our team,” Mitch Beer said after the Kermadec six-year-old’s victory.

“Thanks to the ownership group, who sent him to us from Queensland late last year.

“He does a lot of his work at the beach.

“We had Captain Fenkel in races at Rosehill Gardens and Caulfield yesterday, but chose the Prelude.

“He will definitely go to the Wyong Cup, and will run well.”

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Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley won his sixth race in the last month when Stakeholder scored at home today.

Ridden by Rory Hutchings, Stakeholder ($5) led home an all-local finish from Nacim Dilmi’s Charleroi ($2.40 favorite) and Damien Lane’s Wealthy Investor ($31) in the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

Bartley’s winning run began with Dusty Bay at Warwick Farm on July 15, and continued with Stakeholder at Kembla Grange the following day, Last Druid at Hawkesbury on July 19, Cuban Cigar at Wyong on August 2 and Fabrice at Newcastle last Thursday.

Cuban Cigar was narrowly beaten by favorite Attractiveness in yesterday’s Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.

Sydney mare Just Glamorous earned a “ticket” into the Group 3 Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) on September 4 by winning today’s Prelude (1200m).

Just Glamorous ($1.80 favorite) had a great battle with runner-up Mrs Maree ($3.10) in the straight before prevailing narrowly.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 16, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS