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By John Curtis

He hasn’t won for nearly two years, but Team Price is banking on a couple of factors clinching an overdue “victory” at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Six-year-old Victory Lane ($6 on TAB) will be one of three representatives at the meeting for leading Kembla Grange trainers, father and son Robert and Luke Price.

Brock Ryan reunites with the gelding in the Australian Horse Arenas Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m), and Team Price has made two important gear changes.

Victory Lane (Brock Ryan) after his last win at Kembla Grange in November 2023. Image by Bradley Photographers

“We’ve put both a cross-over nose band and tongue tie on him,” co-trainer Luke Price said this morning.

“Victory Lane hasn’t won for a long time (that was a Midway Benchmark 7 Handicap, 1400m at the feature The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange in November 2023), but he looks so well placed tomorrow, and has an inside barrier.

“Brock hasn’t ridden him for quite a while, and has been on him in two of his three wins.”

Ryan partnered Victory Lane when he broke through in a 3YO Maiden Plate (1300m) at Warwick Farm in December 2022, and last rode him when runner-up to Ruby Flyer in a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at home in March last year.

The tongue-tie goes on Victory Lane on the recommendation of jockey Tommy Berry, who rode the gelding in his latest fifth to Axius in a CG&E Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) on the Kensington Track on August 13.

He reported to Racing NSW Stewards that the gelding held his breath in the race, and suggested to connections that they consider using a tongue-tie on him.

Team Price also runs All Saints ($7.50) and Lucky Bay ($10) at Hawkesbury.

Brock Ryan partners All Saints in the Greg Hales Memorial Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m), and apprentice Mitch Stapleford goes on Lucky Bay in The Signature Bull Class 1/Maiden Plate (1800m).

“All Saints is bursting to win a race,” Luke Price said. “She has been placed at three of her six starts, and tries hard.

“Lucky Bay is a bit of a thinker. Holly Durnan (apprentice) gave him a great ride at Bathurst last start when he looked like winning before finishing third.

“Mitch Stapleford is riding in good form and well, and will claim 2kg on Lucky Bay, who can run well.”

Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard is in two minds about whether to start Cryptonic at home tomorrow or head to Royal Randwick with him.

Keagan Latham has been booked for Cryptonic ($3.80 favourite) in the same race as Victory Lane, whilst Chad Schofield has the mount in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at headquarters.

“It’s not an easy decision,” Attard said this morning. “Cryptonic looks to be in a winnable race at home, but it will be a good track here and I also feel he would be suited at Randwick on a softer surface.

“He didn’t have much luck at his last start in a similar race at Randwick, but finished off well when he got out into the clear over the last 200m.

“That was his second run back from a break, and he has taken nice improvement from it.”

If Attard decides to take Cryptonic ($16) to Randwick for the opener at 11.50am, he will back in plenty of time to saddle Rudbeckia ($34) in the closer at Hawkesbury at 4.55pm. Lee Magorrian will partner Rudbeckia in the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1800m).

The Autumn Sun four-year-old has raced seven times to date and managed only one placing; third on debut over 1400m at Kembla Grange last November. Attard has opted to put winkers on him for the first time for tomorrow’s assignment.

The rail is in the TRUE position for the seven-race program, which begins at 1.20pm. Course manager Digby Nuthall this morning posted a Good 4 rating.

Hawkesbury has not received any rain in the past 24 hours, and only 1.5mm in the last seven days. A total of 2mm of irrigation was put on the track in the 24 hours up until 8.30am today.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here