High hopes for Zaragoza at Kembla, but weather worries cloud the issue
By Ray Hickson
There’s already a “plan B” in place for Robert and Luke Price’s ex-Godolphin recruit Zaragoza should the weather stop Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting from proceeding.
Luke Price said the preference would be for the four-year-old to stay at home for the Join The Warra Club Handicap (1000m) at Kembla, but he’s also engaged in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday as a back-up.
Trainers Robert and Luke Price.Credit: Getty
The gelding was secured for $60,000 via an Inglis Digital sale. With only three starts under his belt, including a Kembla heavy track win in January, there has to be some upside, according to Price.
“He’s a lovely animal and I still think he’s better than a Class 1 Kembla Grange horse,” Price said.
“I’m pretty sure there’s something still in the tank. What he shows me at home, I would think he’d get through to midway grade.
“I hope we’re right that he was a good buy. You never know until the money is in the bank. He’s a lovely, big, strong type showing great ability and is a lovely horse to have around the stable.”
Zaragoza is a half-brother to group 1 winner Zapateo and Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls.
He was meant to kick off for the Price stable at the Kembla meeting two weeks ago but was scratched at the barriers and went back to the trials, running second at Randwick last week.
“It didn’t go to plan originally, when the horse played up in the barriers at the first start we wanted to give him,” he said.
“I don’t love trialling him a week out but I still want my options going forward. I think he’s going well enough to win in town on a wet track.
“I’d love to go around [Thursday] but whether the weather gods are on our side, time will tell.
“I like 1100m more than 1000m if anything, but I thought his class would take him a long way.
“If he runs Saturday, he’d be a really good each-way chance on a track that would really suit him and he’d be going around with 53kg on his back.”
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