LEADING Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price will split their Saturday acceptors in town between two venues.
Hat-trick seeker Spirit Of Varanasi will line up at Canterbury tomorrow night rather than Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, leaving recent stable acquisition Mogwai to be the stable’s representative at the latter meeting.
Co-trainer Luke Price late this afternoon named the Evening Star Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury as Spirit Of Varanisi’s target.
Mogwai, a first-up winner for the father and son team at home, will contest the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The decision to run Spirit Of Varanasi at Canterbury means Keagan Latham will be able to continue a successful association with Bel Esprit five-year-old.
He has partnered the mare in three of her four career victories; the last two on end on the Kensington track on December 6 in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m) followed by a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) at home on January 4.
“Spirit Of Varanasi drew well at both Canterbury and in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill, but the former looks the right race for her,” Luke Price said.
“She has been an unlucky mare, and is a stable favourite.”
“We tried her at 1400m at home in November, but it didn’t suit her.
“She has won up to 1300m, and we gave her a little freshen after that and she has strung the two wins together.
“Whilst this will be her first start at Canterbury, I’m sure she will race well and, of course, Keagan knows her well.”
Former Godolphin four-year-old Mogwai made a successful debut for Team Price in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange on December 28.
“He did a terrific job giving the second and third placegetters 4kg and 3kg respectively,” Price said.
“We would have preferred going to 1400m second up rather than 1500m, but it’s better than asking him to carry 61kg again (he has 57kg).
Ash Morgan, who is in great form and has ridden 55 winners so far this season, has the mount on Mogwai.
“Ash rode Our Gold Hope for us when she scored on debut at Kembla Grange in October 2023,” Price said.
As well as Spirit Of Varanasi, Team Price also takes Hey Jude and Verbek to Canterbury tomorrow night.
Tom Sherry rides Hey Jude in the 2 & 3YO Maiden Handicap (1200m) for fillies, and Adam Hyeronimus partners Verbek in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m).
HOOFNLOTE: The Gosford meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 6 has been transferred to Scone as a provincial meeting.
Story John Curtis, January 16, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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