Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Kembla Grange-based horseman, who trains in partnership with his father Robert, said Sydney’s rain-affected surfaces during the autumn carnival hindered the talented duo from producing their best.
“It’s rain that we have never seen before and the tracks just aren’t coping, I started a 2-year-old filly here (Kembla Grange) last Saturday called Rare Beauty that I didn’t want to and it knocked her around so much going around on a Heavy, luckily she’s bounced back, but where do you go with them?” Price told TDN AusNZ.
Luke and Robert Price | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“You don’t know just how much the Heavy tracks take out of them until you run them again, it’s a worry, but we’ve just got to be patient and pick our right marks with our runners like we have on Saturday with Count De Rupee and Jamaea.”
Rupee ready to roll
Price believes Count De Rupee is ready to stamp his status as a genuine G1 Doomben 10,000 contender after the quality gelding bounced back from two uncharacteristic performances in the G1 Newmarket H. and G1 TJ Smith S. respectivley with a narrow second placing behind Kementari (Lonhro) in last fortnight’s G3 Hall Mark S. at Randwick.
While Count De Rupee boasts three placings on Heavy surfaces Price believes his galloper is better suited on top of the ground and will prove hard to hold out if Brock Ryan can work his way into the clear from barrier one.
Count De Rupee | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s done extremely well since that (Hall Mark) run and while we were eying off going into the Doomben 10,000 a month between runs he’s done nothing but please me and gives me every impression he’s ready to go again,” Price said.
“So, while the irons hot we should get him up there and really have a crack on a better surface than Randwick’s been racing like, and if he can win he really puts himself up there as a genuine Doomben 10,000 contender in two weeks' time.”
Price is confident Count De Rupee can measure up in Group 1 sprints despite the 4-year-old producing his best performance’s to date last spring when running second behind I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) in the Golden Eagle before winning The Gong over a mile.
“I do think he’s probably at his best as a 1400 metre to a miler at times but we’ve been training him to sprint these days and when the tracks get better we will see whether what we’re doing is right or wrong, but I do think he’s up to them at sprint trips no matter what,” Price said.
“I do think he’s probably at his best as a 1400 metre to a miler at times but we’ve been training him to sprint these days and when the tracks get better we will see whether what we’re doing is right or wrong, but I do think he’s up to them at sprint trips no matter what.” - Luke Price
A $145,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase via the draft of Arrowfield Stud, Count De Rupee is out of Timeless Choice (Redoute’s Choice), an unraced sister to Mick Price's Group 1-winning sprinter Lankan Rupee.
Jamaea jumping out of her skin
Price said an extra five hours alone on the float and the potential for wet weather in South Australia next week was behind the decision not to run Jamaea in Saturday week’s G1 Sangster S. at Morphettville.
He believes the dual Group 2-winning Jamaea, who boasts a narrow third placing behind top-tier fillies Fangirl (Sebring) and Espiona (Extreme Choice) in the G2 Light Finger S., is a Group 1 winner in waiting, saying her latest unplaced performances in the G1 Surround S. and G1 The Galaxy H. aren't a reflection of her true ability.
The second-crop daughter of Vinery Stud stallion Headwater’s next three runs are likely to be the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, the G1 Stradbroke H. and the G1 Tattersall's Tiara if she measure’s up against ‘older boys’ on Saturday.
Jamaea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I’m sure she has the right Group 1 in her as does Tommy (Berry) and Brock (Ryan), who both ride her a fair bit,” Price said.
“She’s got an explosive turn of foot and just needs circumstances in her favour, things to fall into place and to be on top of the ground.
“She’ll be extremely strong late and we will see her back to her best on Saturday I believe, as she’s a filly who tries extremely hard and just doesn’t measure up on wet tracks.”
A $130,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase via the draft of Cressfield, Jamaea is the third foal out of G3 Bow Mistress Trophy winner Isibaeva (Johannesburg {USA}).
Jamaea as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her grandam is the three-time Tasmanian stakes winner Dragila (Encosta De Lago), who hails from the extended family of the four-time Group 2 winner Stargazer.
Jamaea’s half-brother Mondo (All Too Hard), who was purchased by Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $55,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, finished fourth behind subsequent Listed Redoute’s Choice S. winner Cannonball (Capitalist) on debut for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Hard to split
Price can’t split Count De Rupee and Jamaea despite bookmakers keeping the former firm in the market and pricing the latter as a rank outsider.
He doesn’t believe the resuming Rothfire (Rothesay) to be the main danger in the race, saying the Robert Heathcote-trained gelding’s stablemate Startantes (Star Turn) will take a power of beating.
“I don’t think there should be as much between them (Jamaea and Count De Rupee) in the market as I can’t split them to be honest, I rode both in their work during the week and they have both really pleased me, they’re filling me with confidence that they’re going really well into Saturday,” Price said.
“I rode both (Jamaea and Count De Rupee) in their work during the week and they have both really pleased me, they’re filling me with confidence that they’re going really well into Saturday.” - Luke Price
“Jamaea has this electric turn of foot but only has the record against 3-year-old fillies to be fair to her and now has to prove herself against the older horses whereas he’s (Count De Rupee) a year older and is proven against some very good horses.
“I’m sure she’s (Jamaea) going to get there one day, whether it’s too soon for her at the moment time will tell but I’m keen to see them fight out the finish as it would be a great achievement by the stable and we’re very lucky to have these two quality horses.”
Riding the wave
Count De Rupee and Jamaea’s success over the past 18 months has been life changing for the stable, according to Price.
“We’ve had a huge year at the sales on the back of Count De Rupe and Jamaea’s success, we’ve purchased a lot of lovely horses and spent money that we couldn’t of dreamed of before,” Price said.
“The quality of horses in our stable is looking great for the years to come and you just want to keep building on it and hope to find the next Jamaea or Count De Rupee and have good horses at the races during carnival times.”
