Kembla preview: Trainers Robert and Luke Price chasing a first-up win with former Godolphin gelding Mogwai

Local father and son training team of Robert and Luke Price are looking to add another win to the tally with a former Godolphin gelding.

Co-trainers Luke and Robert Price are looking to end 2024 on a high note at Kembla. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainers Robert and Luke Price had a win with former Godolphin gelding Zaragoza last month and are hoping to hit the ground running with the latest one to join their team, Mogwai.

The four-year-old was purchased on Inglis Digital in late September and kicks off his first campaign for his new trainers in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) where he has drawn barrier 3 with Keagan Latham to ride.

“He’s quite a nice horse and I think he’s a type though would appreciate a soft track,” said Robert Price.

“He’s got his fair share of weight but he has drawn a soft gate to get all the favours and a leading Kembla rider on so he ticks a few boxes.

“He’s a slight horse, he’s not a heavy animal. He’s had the one jumpout here and I think he is forward enough to be cheeky.”

Until Valhalla leads all the way to score a strong win!

The hot favourite Mogwai couldn't bridge the gap and lands in second.@[e-mail]/G3fXW6DltY

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Mogwai has two wins and five placings from just 11 starts. He is a winner over 1500m at Kembla but placed in each of his three runs at 1300m.

“If you go through his form, he has been pretty consistent,” Price said.

“I think he will be a good horse through autumn when the tracks start getting a little rain affected. He’s got good form on soft tracks.”

The father and son combination where quite pleased with the run of Cuban Rain over 1300m on the Kensington last start when sixth behind Alinea and Crepe Myrtle who franked the form with a win at Randwick on Thursday.

The three-year-old was jumping up from a first-up fifth behind Quartz Legend over 1000m at Kembla three weeks earlier.

“I thought she was good on the Kensington. She was worked home strong late,” he said.

“She is a work in progress who I think will be a mile to 2000m horse and she definitely has a future.”

The daughter of Manhattan Rain has a wide gate to contend with when she steps out in the Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap (1400m) but could quite possibly come in a few barriers after scratchings.

“She needs to draw a good gate so she can race a bit closer to the speed but she is the sort of filly who can run a good race this weekend,” he said.

Alinea holds on to win at Randwick!@RachelK11 | @GaiWaterhouse1 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/XEopI4xG05

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Price is hoping for a few scratchings in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) to allow Madam Rupee to come in or she will be saved for another day.

The daughter of Dundeel scored a boilover win at $101 to win her maiden at Kembla back in June but disappointed at her next three starts.

On the verge of being retired after finishing last behind Codetta at Kembla on November 16, Price had the mare scoped and found a problem.

“She had been displacing her palate,” he said.

“We changed some gear and gave her a run over 1200m at Nowra. It was too short for her but we were happy with that run on a firm track that raced on speed.

“There is another win in store this preparation, we just have to make sure we don’t go wasting runs from bad gates so we will wait until the last minute and decide if she runs.”

Price has added the blinkers to Monte Braveheart in a bid to get the gelding to show his best in the Colts and Geldings Maiden Handicap (1400m).

“He has a lot of convictions but will win a race once day; we just don’t know when.

In the same race, Autumn Heir is having his second career start following his debut eighth and feel he will keep improving with experience as he steps up distance.