Kembla preview: A pair of promising fillies from the Robert and Luke Price stable are son song for their maiden success

Local trainers Robert and Luke Price looks set for a good day at their home track with three leadings chances and a filly ready to run a cheeky race.

Cuban Rain can end the day on a high note at Kembla. Picture: Bradley Photos

Two good options in 24 hours for promising mare Cuban Rain gave trainers Robert and Luke Price plenty to think about but ultimately decided on a home track assignment in a bid to break through.

The father and son trainers had the option of a 1400m maiden on the Kensington but elected for the Super Maiden Handicap (1600m) despite a wide draw.

“It was a bit of a tough decision whether to run there or wait a day but I really think she is screaming out for the 1600 metres,” said Luke Price.

“With the rail back in the true position, it will offset the wide barrier. The gate shouldn’t worry her.

“My only concern is if there is more rain before the race. Hopefully we don’t get any.”

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Cuban Rain has been good in all three runs this campaign starting with a fifth to Quartz Legend over 1000m in November.

She was then an unlucky closing sixth to Alinea at Canterbury before a gutsy second from near last to Rybakina here on a day the track favoured on-pace runners.

“She was outstanding in finishing second last start and she has been really good since,” Price said.

“Keagan (Latham) had a glowing report after her last start and was keen to stick with her.

“With a couple of the key chances up the top out, it really opens the race up and I think she will be hard to beat.”

Fellow three-year-old filly Hey Jude debuted in the same race back in November when seventh and has placed in her three runs since, improving each time.

She was a three-quarter length second to the unbeaten Puntin at Nowra on November 15 before a gutsy third to Havasu Falls there two weeks later.

“She is knocking on the door for her maiden win,” Price said.

“Just the barrier in tricky run race the other day curtailed her chances but she really savaged the line.

“She would have run the fastest closing sectionals in that race.

“She has drawn a little sticky but Andy (Adkins) rode her very well at Nowra two starts back and really liked her.

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“He is back on this week and with the rail in the true position, I don’t think the barrier will be too much of a problem.”

Satness has been freshened up since contesting three Midway Handicap at Randwick, Kembla and Rosehill and will appreciate a drop back in grade when he tackles the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m).

The last time the six-year-old raced in this grade, he led all-the-way to beat Audrey’s Lane over 1600m here back in October.

“He has had a freshen-up since those midway runs. He had 10 days out, Price said.

“Adam (Hyeronimus) knows the horse well, his riding style suits him.

“His stats dropping back in this grade over 1400 metres at Kembla are pretty good.

“I’ve got no doubt he is going good enough to win. He might need a little luck early but I think he will take a power of beating.”

Although unplaced in her three runs to date, So Sain was beaten just under two lengths in two of them and Price expects her to run well in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1000m).

“Her debut run was a ripper and first-up this time at Hawkesbury, it was a hot day and she just charged in the blinkers,” he said.

“It was a tough effort when three-wide throughout last start and she was still there until 50 metres.

“With any luck from the barrier, I think she can run a cheeky race.”

CONNERS HAS HIS SIGHTS ON A KEMBLA DOUBLE

Trainer Clarry Conners patient approach with Sunday Tycoon paid dividends with an impressive first-up win and the gelding is ready to repeat that performance.

Sunday Tycoon debuted with a handy second behind Sukida at Newcastle last July and was given two more runs for experience in August before a spell.

He resumed with a big win at Wyong when missing the start and charging home to score by nearly two lengths from the unlucky Believe In Angels who franked the form with a Warwick Farm win next start.

“I got him ready first-up and he ran quite well to finish second,” said Conners.

“He had been in for a while but I just wanted to give him another run or two to see where we were with him.

“The experience of those three runs held him in good stead for this campaign.

“There was a lot of merit in his performance at Wyong. He jumped in the air at the start like Belle Du Jour did in the (Golden) Slipper.

Sunday Tycoon is looking to go back-to-back when he heads to Kembla. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I thought he would be leading or sitting up on the speed but he got well back. There was certainly more to it than what appears on paper.

“I thought he was very dominant in the end.”

The four-year-old is looking to go back-to-back when he steps out in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

“There is a lot of speed in this race. He performed so well coming from behind the other day, we might do the same thing again,” he said.

Conners can start the day on a winning note when Mrs Maree resumes in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1000m).

The filly had two runs as a two-year-old when sixth to Rag Queen on debut at Canterbury last January before a tenth to Castanya in the Listed Lonhro Plate.

“In her first start, they went too hard running 10.5 seconds or something like that for each the first couple of furlongs,” Conners said.

“I ran her again just give her a bit more experience before turning her out.

“She had a little injury so that’s why is taken her so long to come back.”

Mrs Maree showed she is on target for a big first-up run with an all-the-way trial win at Warwick Farm on January 3.

“She trialled really well the other week. I was very happy with her.

“She is a very fast filly with plenty of ability. I expect her to run very well.”