Leading Kembla Grange trainer Luke Price has confirmed he won't have a runner in his home track's marquee event, the $1 million The Gong, after withdrawing top local hope Our Gold Hope from Saturday's feature race.
Local Champion Misses Million-Dollar Feature
Price, who trained Count De Rupee to victory in the 2021 edition of The Gong, conceded on Wednesday that his mare Our Gold Hope wouldn't make the field for the Group 3, 1600-metre feature on November 22. "It is unfortunate, it's a big $1 million race on your own track, and she's not going to make the field," Price told media.
The trainer expressed frustration with Our Gold Hope's recent form, noting she hasn't won a race in a long time despite racing well. "It's unfortunate because it is a race we've had in the back of our minds, but she's just had a preparation when nothing's gone right," he said.
Our Gold Hope will instead contest the Benchmark 88 over 1600 metres on the same card, with jockey Tommy Berry taking the ride. Price indicated the preparation isn't over for the mare, with races like the Ingham still potential targets.
Defending Champion Returns to Kembla Grange
Last year's The Gong winner Gringotts is confirmed to defend his crown, with trainer Ciaron Maher announcing the star galloper as a definite starter. Gringotts comes into the race fresh from winning the Big Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, setting up an intriguing title defence.
Despite the absence of his own horse in the main event, Price emphasised that The Gong Day remains a "huge day" for his stables. "It is on our home track, and it is something we aim a lot of our horses at this meeting," he said. "You race for that great city prize money in front of your home crowd, in front of a lot of your owners, most of whom are local."
Price Stable's Strong Support Race Contingent
The Price stable will feature prominently across the nine support races on the Illawarra Mercury-sponsored program, including several strong chances.
Price is weighing up options for his gelding Zaragoza, considering both The Warra - elevated to Group 3 status in 2024 - and the Benchmark 78 over 1000 metres. "We are certainly leaning to racing him in his own grade," Price said, noting barrier draw would be crucial to the final decision.
Another standout is Smashing Time, whom Price describes as "loaded with ability" despite some behavioural issues. The horse remains unbeaten on his home track, boasting three wins from three starts at Kembla Grange.
Satness represents one of the stable's most consistent performers, having placed 30 times from 65 starts. Price plans to run him in the Benchmark 78 over 1400 metres with Brock Ryan aboard.
The stable will also field Mogwai in the Midway race, with Price confident the horse can be competitive if he gets the right barrier draw.
Reflecting on his 2021 victory with Count De Rupee, Price said: "I have fantastic memories obviously of Count De Rupee. That was a special day, you can never forget something like that. The Count was a great horse for the stable. Let alone to win that race early in its career, the horse and race itself, so now we just have to build on that and find another one."
