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The Australian
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 Melbourne Cup: Trainers Mick Price, Michael Kent Jr eye Cup
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr operation has steadily gathered an arsenal that could push the team into a lucrative frontier in the spring. Price and Kent Jr's partnership has been most successful since launching six years ago but the stable has produced only two Melbourne Cup runners. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Oceanex finished 11th for the duo in 2020 while Lastotchka pulled up with a problem after finishing 13th when making her Australian debut in the 2023 edition of the great race. 'It's the most popular race in Australia,' Kent Jr said. 'It's a race, of course, that Mick and I would love to win and we have developed, in recent times, a strategy in buying a few more of these imported staying types.' Lastotchka spent 16 months off the scene as she also required colic surgery before having five runs during the Sydney autumn carnival. • O'Brien looms large in Caulfield Cup raid Kent Jr said the stable wanted to get Lastotchka racing regularly last time but but the now seven-year-old pleased connections when fourth in a Cranbourne jumpout on August 4. 'Last preparation was aimed at getting back into the groove of things and was aimed at the Sydney Cup,' Kent Jr said. 'We got a good (3) track that day and she did not like it. 'She trialled well on Monday and we'll kick off in the Heatherlie (Handicap) at Caulfield. 'She's a very capable mare and she loves getting her toe in the ground. 'While she'll have an entry, naturally, for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, we just want to get her back winning.' Import Bur Dubai is one of several smart stayers that will form part of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr's Caulfield and Melbourne Cup team. Picture: Racing Photos • Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow, forgive from The Valley on Saturday Lastotchka is one of four Price and Kent Jr-trained runners among Caulfield Cup entries along with fellow imports Kitty Rose and Bur Dubai and handy middle-distance performer Golden Path. Kent Jr said Bur Dubai, who finished less than three lengths from the winner when resuming at The Valley last Saturday, was one of a cohort of emerging stayers that was set to show up during the spring. 'I thought we produced a few nice ones last preparation,' Kent Jr said. 'We had Bur Dubai, Wonder Kid, Move On In all win over a trip at their first (Australian) preparations. 'We've put them away, looked after them and brought them back in.' • Melbourne Cup champ Robbie Dolan wins race in Shergar Cup Kent Jr said there were plenty of options for the lightly-raced trio in the spring with country cups and Melbourne Cup qualifying races, including the recently-added Geelong Cup, on the calendar. 'They're very progressive horses and we don't know where they're going to end up yet,' Kent Jr said. 'They're low-rated but have got good ability, they're sound, they're good types and they have been well sourced. 'Where they get to, I'm not sure, but they're the right horses.'
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr's new stayer squad eyes 2025 Melbourne Cup success
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr operation has steadily gathered an arsenal that could push the team into a lucrative frontier in the spring. Price and Kent Jr 's partnership has been most successful since launching six years ago but the stable has produced only two Melbourne Cup runners. Oceanex finished 11th for the duo in 2020 while Lastotchka pulled up with a problem after finishing 13th when making her Australian debut in the 2023 edition of the great race. 'It's the most popular race in Australia,' Kent Jr said. 'It's a race, of course, that Mick and I would love to win and we have developed, in recent times, a strategy in buying a few more of these imported staying types.' Lastotchka spent 16 months off the scene as she also required colic surgery before having five runs during the Sydney autumn carnival. ðŸ�‡Lastotchka 🇫🇷🥇 (Myboycharlie 🇨🇮 - Muthla 🇫🇷, by Muhtathir 🇬🇧) ðŸ�† Prix Gladiateur 🇫🇷 Longchamp #Paris #Longchamp #Myboycharlie #SharpenUp #SadlersWells — Aydın Stud (@aydin_stud) September 5, 2023 • O'Brien looms large in Caulfield Cup raid Kent Jr said the stable wanted to get Lastotchka racing regularly last time but but the now seven-year-old pleased connections when fourth in a Cranbourne jumpout on August 4. 'Last preparation was aimed at getting back into the groove of things and was aimed at the Sydney Cup,' Kent Jr said. 'We got a good (3) track that day and she did not like it. 'She trialled well on Monday and we'll kick off in the Heatherlie (Handicap) at Caulfield. 'She's a very capable mare and she loves getting her toe in the ground. 'While she'll have an entry, naturally, for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, we just want to get her back winning.' • Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow, forgive from The Valley on Saturday Lastotchka is one of four Price and Kent Jr-trained runners among Caulfield Cup entries along with fellow imports Kitty Rose and Bur Dubai and handy middle-distance performer Golden Path. Kent Jr said Bur Dubai, who finished less than three lengths from the winner when resuming at The Valley last Saturday, was one of a cohort of emerging stayers that was set to show up during the spring. 'I thought we produced a few nice ones last preparation,' Kent Jr said. 'We had Bur Dubai, Wonder Kid, Move On In all win over a trip at their first (Australian) preparations. 'We've put them away, looked after them and brought them back in.' Move On In outstays his opposition, claiming his first win on Australian soil ðŸ'Œ @MickPriceRacing & @beau_mertens combine again ðŸ¤� — (@Racing) April 6, 2025 Kent Jr said there were plenty of options for the lightly-raced trio in the spring with country cups and Melbourne Cup qualifying races, including the recently-added Geelong Cup, on the calendar. 'They're very progressive horses and we don't know where they're going to end up yet,' Kent Jr said. 'They're low-rated but have got good ability, they're sound, they're good types and they have been well sourced. 'Where they get to, I'm not sure, but they're the right horses.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jockey Tommy Berry excited by Welwal's hopes in the wet in Winter Stakes at Rosehill
Star jockey Tommy Berry is brimming with confidence Welwal's form upswing and a wet track can deliver a late season stakes success at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Berry and the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr -trained import narrowly missed out in the Listed Civic Stakes last start and will attempt to go one better in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m). It was the first time Berry had ridden Welwal under race conditions in the Civic Stakes and the performance left the gun hoop convinced the gelding is ready to win. Welwal only had a couple of runners behind him in the Royal Randwick test before surging home down the outside to finish a close second to Headley Grange. 'He was ready to run a big race and the stable knew that as well, they were very confident with his chances,' Berry said. 'They would have liked a bit more give in the ground to be a good thing but they will get that this weekend. 'I am surprised the market hasn't reacted to that this weekend because he is an ideal wet tracker and off the back off his last start, you would have thought he would be harder in the market but I am happy with the way he is going.' Welwal has been a drifter in early betting from $6 out to $7.50 with punters looking to land a plunge on Whinchat, which has been sensationally backed from $15 into $4.80 favouritism. Welwal was brought to Australia to target the Golden Eagle and spent his early years in Australia with Chris Waller before joining Price and Kent Jr last spring. The six-year-old boasts Group 3 wins in both hemispheres with his biggest win on Australian shores coming in last year's Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield on heavy ground. Headley Grange adds the Listed Civic Stakes to his impressive record, and it's a Randwick treble to Jason Collett! 🙌 @PrideRacing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • It was an uneventful start to this preparation for the imported talent but his Civic Stakes performance was a reminder of his ability. 'He is a better horse than this grade,' Berry said. 'I suppose he has lost his way a little bit since he has come over but the stable were confident heading into last start that he is has been getting back to that better form. 'He gave me that feeling in his trial so it didn't take much convincing to tell me he was going well. 'I think he would have gained a lot of confidence out of that the other day.' While Welwal is undoubtedly a class galloper, Berry will link up with perhaps the most exciting young horse in the program to start his day on Raging Force. The Peter Snowden -trained Raging Force has announced himself as a genuine spring carnival contender this preparation after backing up a dominant first-up victory at Muswellbrook with an eye-catching success at Randwick Kensington. That's a big win at Randwick to Raging Force, who makes it two wins in a row! ðŸ'° @TommyBerry21 @SnowdenRacing1 @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025 The son of Cosmic Force is an even money favourite to bring up a winning hat-trick in the Thank You ATC Members 2YO Open (1100m). 'Raging Force is a lovely horse,' Berry said. 'He has always showed us quite a bit but it has just taken a while for the penny to drop. 'Every year you see one or two horses over the winter that catch your eye. 'Autumn Boy is one that won really well in Brisbane and this guy, what he did last start with the winkers on was quite impressive.' Raging Force has drawn in the inside in the opening event on the program. He has led the field up in both of his starts this preparation but Berry insists he doesn't necessarily need to lead. 'I reckon he will be better with a trail anyway and looks like he might get that. ' Blake Ryan 's horse (Just Awesome) that I rode on debut, he has plenty of speed and probably more than me. 'He is a horse that will take you right into the race as well. It is probably going to afford us the opportunity to be ridden with cover on the weekend and I am excited what he can bring.' â– â– â– â– â– Gate open to another win Well-bred gelding Gatekeeper was bred to be a star and gun jockey Tommy Berry reckons the Chris Waller-trained galloper could be ready to start delivering on his potential. Berry will have a strong hand for Waller at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and will attempt to help Gatekeeper remain unbeaten in the The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). Breeding powerhouse Coolmore are in the ownership of Gatekeeper and have been forced wait patiently to see the gelding produce on the track. The three-year-old is a son of US champion Justify out of Australian Group 1 winner Nakeeta Jane. Nakeeta Jane was a placegetter in the 2018 Group 1 Flight Stakes before returning in the autumn to claim her maiden major in the Surround Stakes. . @mcacajamez gets his first win in Australia for the year with Gatekeeper finding the gap and taking out the first at Canterbury! ðŸ'¥ @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2025 • Shayne O'Cass's tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday Berry piloted Gatekeeper in his first public appearance last May when he finished sixth in a trial at Rosehill Gardens but it wasn't for another eight months until the well-bred talent was produced at the races. Gatekeeper proved to be worth the wait when doing his best work late to score in a 1250m event at Canterbury on January 17 this year. Berry has ridden Gatekeeper in trackwork since and expects a bold showing from the three-year-old first-up. 'He gives you a lovely feel,' Berry said. 'He works good at home and is one of those horses that has always taken a bit of time and Chris has given him that. 'He has been accepted a few times in different races and drawn poorly. 'They've waited for a good alley (barrier five) for him and he's got that on the weekend. 'He's got quality on his side.' Bookies rate Gatekeeper as a $4.80 favourite to make it two from two to start his career with first emergency Lunaite well supported from $8 into $5. Berry also has the rides on Sounds Unusual ($8), Useapin ($10) and Cigar Flick ($8.50) for Sydney's leading conditioner.
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mick Kent and Michael Kent Jr to test debut winner Job Done at Flemington
Job Done will give away size to most of his rivals but co-trainer Mick Price says the youngster's motor will take him a long way towards remaining unbeaten at Saturday's Flemington meeting. The two-year-old impressed with his easy debut win in a Seymour maiden on June 10 but will tackle the Flemington straight course for the first time in the Next Generations Sprinters Series Final (1200m). Price, who trains Job Done in partnership with Michael Kent Jr, said the son of Snitzel worked well at Cranbourne on Saturday morning as part of his preparation for his $150,000 target. 'He will turn up and run well at Flemington,' Price said. 'Ben Melham rode him in his gallop and he worked like a horse that needs a horse to follow. 'His first win was good and he's a small gelding with a big stride. 'He's got a motor and a good pedigree and I think he'll run well down the straight.' Job Done is a half-brother to New Zealand Group 2 winner Contessa Vanessa, who also won a Listed race over 2100m. Price said he expected Job Done to handle 1200m at Flemington. 'That's 1200m that race and we're assuming he has that proper stamina about him,' he said. Price and Kent Jr will also run emerging filly Knobelas in the $150,000 Silver Bowl Final (1600m) for three-year-olds. Knobelas was beaten on debut over 1400m at Pakenham on May 8 but has since posted comfortable wins over 1600m at Pakenham and Sandown. Price said the New Zealand-bred filly also worked well on Saturday morning despite saving her best for race day. 'She's not a great trackworker,' Price said. 'She's a better racehorse and she's had tie-forward surgery, which is probably why we hear her blow a bit more than normal but it doesn't worry her. 'She's gone from a maiden to win at Sandown and should continue to improve.'
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hezashocka hunting modern-day history with back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr knows defending champion Hezashocka faces a vastly different challenge in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) as his talented stayer chases a 53-year first at Gosford. Hezashocka won the Gold Cup for the first time last year when the meeting was moved to Newcastle due to a wet forecast with the race staged over 2200m instead. In 2025 it returns to its traditional home course and distance as Hezashocka chasing a piece of modern-day history in the feature event. No horse this century has won the Gosford Gold Cup twice with Dark Diamond the last winner of the staying test back-to-back in 1971-71 has a horse. 'We really thought last year the transfer to Newcastle played into his hands being a bigger track, allowing him to gobble up the competition late in the piece and Gosford is a tighter track but he's certainly in great form,' Kent Jr, who trains with Mick Price, said. 'We are happy with the way he is going and he is arguably going as well as ever the horse. 'I thought his run in the JRA Plate was terrific running on. 'The wetter the better for him.' Hezashocka has had an identical lead-up to the Gosford Cup as he did 12 months ago after running in the Ajax Stakes, Neville Sellwood Stakes and JRA Plate in the lead-up. He was third in last year's JRA Plate before winning the Cup while finishing runner-up in the same Group 3 behind Bois D'argent this year. Hezashocka reels in Sir Lucan to win the Gosford Gold Cup 🎣 — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024 'We have gone with the exact same program and build up,' Kent Jr said. 'He is going great the big boy so it would be no surprise to win this if the race shape works out for him. 'When he won this race last year, we went to Brisbane and he won the Premier's Cup. 'It will depend on that race shape and he will certainly prefer the 2400m on a big track (Eagle Farm) next start.' Jockey Chad Schofield will get the opportunity to chase consecutive Cups on Hezashocka, which has opened as a $4.60 second elect with the bookies. A near capacity of 14 runners accepted for the Gosford Gold Cup with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott set to saddle up New Endeavour ($3.60 favourite) and Les Vampires ($4.60) while Chris Waller has accepted with five contenders, including Scarlet Oak ($15) and Medatsu ($15). The Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) has drawn a capacity field of 14 runners with Depth Of Character and Know Thyself sharing $4.50 favouritism for the feature event. Les Vampires ($8) was also among the acceptors for The Coast alongside stablemate Townsend ($12). The Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes field was reduced to 14 runners following the early scratchings of Terra Mater and Need Some Luck.
