3 minute read
Trainer Luke Price admits Headstock 'lost his way' towards the end of his last preparation but believes his talented galloper is now back to his best as he chases consecutive victories at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Headstock is an acceptor in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and at his home track in the Justin Burns CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
Luke Price, who trains in partnership with his father Robert, is leaning towards keeping him on home turf after the son of Headwater in terrific style at the same track and trip on August 26.
It was Headstock's first victory since he broke his maiden at Moruya midway through last preparation.
"He broke his maiden then he had trouble with his feet and I probably shouldn't have pushed him for that long," Price said.
"I think he has come back really well and his first up was good, albeit in provincial grade but he still ran good sectionals. The Midway is tempting but it's a big field.
"He is probably going to be a horse that's looking for 1400m in the future but he should run well here."
Headstock is rated a $9 contender on TAB to make it two wins on the bounce (and is $34 at Rosehill).
Heavelon Van Der Hoven will pilot all three of the Price runners on their home track with promising filly Diamond Lucy in the Equimillion Super Maiden Handicap (1200m).
Diamond Lucy ($13) chased home the highly-promising colt Mexico to finish runner up at Gosford last time.
"She is a nice filly," Price said. "I thought she got lost the other day at Gosford. Apart from her first start when she went shin sore.
"If she executes the start, she will take some getting past because I think she is going extremely well. The topweight obviously looks extremely smart."
Consistent galloper Verbek ($4.20) will get his chance to break through for a hard earned success when he contests the Great Northern Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
The son of Turn Me Loose has finished runner up in three of his past five starts.
"The horse looks really well in his coat and is consistent," Price said. "He finds it hard to win sometimes but he finds a race without city horses there being provincial only.
"He's had a run of seconds this preparation so hopefully he can put a win next to his name."
Price will travel to Sydney on Saturday afternoon to watch evergreen nine-year-old Cuban Royale ($26) fly the flag for the stable in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
