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By Ray Hickson

Group 1 placed mare Our Gold Hope will be following an early spring path laid out a year ago by Ceolwulf and co-trainer Luke Price says he’d be rapt if her spring turns out half as good.

Trainer Luke Price (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The five-year-old starts her season in the $200,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday and 12 months ago Ceolwulf did the same and ran an eye-catching sixth behind Tom Kitten.

Price, who co-trains with father Robert, said Our Gold Hope’s first three runs back will be identical to Joe Pride’s star and her results in them are set to dictate her targets.

“There was a 1500m, 100 Benchmark race, two weeks later and Ceolwulf won it then he went three weeks into the Kingston Town with a trial in between,’’ Price said.

“I’ve looked at a preparation like that. He freshened up for the Epsom into the King Charles, I don’t know if we’ll go that way but we’ve got our first few runs sorted.

“Whether we’re going to a Hill Stakes fourth-up or aiming higher we’ll wait and see but that’s a pretty good target. There’s a lot of great prizemoney races for her.”

Our Gold Hope, $7.50 with TAB on Friday, won two of her first four starts with the latest of those coming in February last year so Price is keen for her to get a win on the board sooner rather than later.

She has contested four Group 1 races, running second in the Queensland Oaks in 2024, but her four-year-old season realised on third placing, ironically a close third to Ceolwulf, in six starts.

Price said everything she’s done in the lead up to this campaign has been pleasing, not the least her barrier trial last week, and would be disappointed if she’s not at least breathing down their necks at the finish.

“She’s electric when she’s good and she’s got great stamina,’’ he said.

“You look at her appearance and she really came on from Friday’s hitout.

“We’re going to try and get our confidence up and get back into the winner’s stall, hopefully that is Saturday first-up.

“There’s a lot of horses resuming and a lot that need further, albeit we could be one of those looking to get further, but she’s certainly sharp enough.

“We’ve seen how strong she is through the line and that’s going to be her on Saturday.

“She’s a lot more seasoned mare now and we go to another level this preparation.”

With Rosehill receiving 11mm of rain on Thursday, the chances of Mogwai taking his place in the Midway Handicap (1500m) may be decreasing which would be frustrating for Price who feels it’s a nice race for him to bounce back.

The ex-Godolphin galloper ran fourth behind King Of Roseau when resuming in June but his two subsequent runs, albeit now in Midway grade, haven’t been to the same level.

“He was disappointing but he won’t go around unless it gets to a (soft) 6,’’ he said.

Our Gold Hope runs fourth in a Warwick Farm trial on August 8

“The visors will sharpen him up, he’s pleased us at home. He’ll be getting a very positive ride.

“The most important thing is he gets back to the soft range, whether that happens or not time will tell.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting