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By Ray Hickson

As much as Luke Price wanted to have Our Gold Hope running in Saturday’s feature at Kembla Grange he’d be more than happy to settle for the Group 1 placed mare to regain winning touch.

Trainer Luke Price (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s important for Price and his father Robert to be represented in the Group 3 $1m Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) but it’s just as important to have their stable star run well on their showcase day.

And he says the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1600m) provides that chance.

“The mare hasn’t won in a long time but gee she finds the right race,’’ he said.

“I hope she’s not one of those horses that always finds bad luck. It’s probably a blessing we didn’t get a run in the Gong.

“It’s up to her on her home track, back in trip and back to 1600m with winkers on to sharpen her up, to see what she can do.”

Our Gold Hope’s last win, and second of her career, was back in February 2024 but in 17 subsequent starts she’s only raced in a non-stakes event twice recording five placings including four at Group level with a Group 1 second in the Queensland Oaks a highlight.

Last time Our Gold Hope, $6 with TAB on Friday, raced on her home track she ran second in the Kembla Grange Classic as a three-year-old.

Price said the now five-year-old was forced to lead her latest start in the Rosehill Gold Cup at Randwick, the first time she’s ever led, and is happy to forgive her unplaced effort.

“I thought last start it was circumstances, we drew bad and went forward and didn’t think we’d end up in front,’’ he said.

“After she jumped so well he had no choice but to do that.

“It looked like she had the horse that ran second beaten and as soon as it eyeballed her she changed stride and didn’t find like she should, she was strong again late but she’s strong at the back end of all her races.

“You’ve just got to give her as soft a run behind speed as we can.”

That’ll be the aim for jockey Tommy Berry who last rode the mare when placed second-up back in August.

“Tommy was on the phone the other night and he’s happy with the draw and the set up and that’s good enough for me,’’ Price said.

“Anything can go wrong out there but she’s got to hold a spot behind them and be exposed at the right time. I’m confident she’s going well, she’s galloping up to the right level, she just needs the breaks at the right time.”

It’s not often you hear a trainer say they’re pleased with a wide barrier but that’s exactly what Price is as Zaragoza tackles the Altus Traffic Handicap (1000m).

Just as he did when he resumed with a closing third behind Sunrise at Randwick, Zaragoza jumps from near the outside and Price said that’ll allow him to race to his best.

“We’ve worked out how to ride him and sometimes you’ve just got to ride him bad and keep him in his rhythm,’’ he said.

Zaragoza's first-up third at Randwick on November 4

“He’s such a big horse and 1000m on his home deck gives him every opportunity from a perfect draw to do that.

“It was a ripper first-up, he was really good, he’s come on from it and this is the race he’s been set for.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Kembla Grange