‘Makes you 10 times hungrier': Lachlan Neindorf's success drives jockey Ben Price to pull off upset aboard Sghirripa in The Goodwood

News.com.au

07-05-2025

Young gun hoop Ben Price watched on as Lachlan Neindorf snared another Group 1 in the South Australian Derby, and the deeds of his great mate has him determined to make his own mark on the Group 1 stage.
Price, 22, will pilot local sprinter Sghirripa in Saturday's $1m The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville, which is headlined by Everest winner Giga Kick.
Saturday will mark Price's third opportunity at Group 1 level.
He finished 11th aboard Beautiful Jewel in the Australasian Oaks last month and 13th aboard Beau Rossa in 2022's Goodwood.
A Group 1 win is the pinnacle for any jockey, many dream of it, yet few achieve it, and Neindorf's feats in last year's Robert Sangster and the Derby has only fuelled that desire for Price, the son of multiple Group 1-winning jockey, Simon Price.
'Lachy and I are very good mates, I've been mates with him before he'd even had a race ride,' Price said.
'Seeing him ride Group 1 winners makes me even more hungry, if Sghirripa is the horse that could get me a Group 1, I'd be really rapt.
'It obviously makes you 10 times hungrier seeing your mates win them.'
Sghirripa cruises home to take out our feature race the Standish Handicap, gaining an automatic start in the Newmarket Handicap on Super Saturday at Flemington on Saturday 9 March.
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Group 1 opportunities are scarce for Adelaide jockeys, there is only four majors on the Adelaide's racing calendar, and competition for Group 1 rides interstate is fierce.
'We all want rides in Group 1's, us Adelaide jockeys probably struggle to secure Group 1 rides throughout the carnival, but we can do it,' he said.
'Lachy has showed that in the last two years, we are capable of riding in Group 1 races and we can win them, we just need the stock underneath.
'I don't think putting an Adelaide jockey on is any disadvantage to any horse – that's for sure.'
Grey flash Sghirripa, trained by Shane and Cassie Oxlade, is a $41 hope with Sportsbet for The Goodwood, and comes into the race following a runner-up performance in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes behind Asfoora.
The son of Lonhro is a five-time Group 1 performer, and may have stolen last year's Oakleigh Plate, won by stablemate Queman, with even luck.
'I'm very excited, I'm very grateful to Shane and Cass for giving me the ride,' Price said.
'He went very well a fortnight ago in the Irwin, it wasn't the idea to be out in front like that, I thought he had every chance and he acquitted himself very well.
'He's had a good trial in-between, his trial was fantastic, he moved really well, I thought his action was probably ten times better than it was before I rode him a fortnight earlier.
'We know he's a solid galloper on his day, there's obviously a strong two or three chances, but anything can go wrong in those sort of races, all we need is a bit of luck and he's a horse that can be right in the finish.'
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Allocated the widest gate on Saturday, tactics will be determined by how well Sghirripa jumps.
'If he jumps, he'll probably roll forward and make the running again, if he steps a stride slow, there's plenty of options for horses we can get on the back of,' he said.
'I'm looking forward to it, it's a small field, anything can happen and he deserves his chance in a race like this.'
For a second time, Price will line up against older brother, Will, at Group 1-level, the pair contested the 2022 Goodwood, and Will is aboard Clarken and O'Shea-trained mare Prairie Flower in this year's edition.
'I actually got him the ride to be honest, Will Clarken rang me a week ago and said 'I'm struggling to find a rider for the horse', I said 'why don't you chuck Will on?',' he said.
'Five minutes later he rang me back and said 'Will's booked', he can obviously ride as well, it's good to see him have a ride in the race.'