Kembla preview: Commanding Belle ready to chime again
Robert and Luke Price already have their third straight Kembla trainers premiership wrapped up but are still keen to end the season on a winning note.
Headlining the attack for the father and son duo is well-bred filly Commanding Belle who broke through for his first win on her home track nine days ago.
After tracking the speed, she eased wide off the bend and quickly raced away to score by a length-and-a-half.
'She was impressive the other day. It was good for her to get a two-year-old win but she got a whole lot of rating points for her trouble,' said Robert Price.
Commanding Belle had shown nice ability in placing in two of her first four starts including a third to Rivellino on debut at Randwick.
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She was also much better than her second placings at Canterbury and in the Group 3 Magic Night at Rosehill to end her first campaign.
The daughter of Golden Slipper winner Farnan returns to the same track and distance in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
'She is a racing against the older horses this week but she does get a bit of weight relief being a two-year-old and a filly,' Price said.
'She has come through the run very well and he last bit of work on Thursday morning was really nice.
'She will turn up with bells on.'
Price said it would pay to forget the last run of Jamarni when he tackles the Class 1 Handicap (1500m).
The son of Pride Of Dubai was held up behind runners and wasn't able to be tested when ninth to Autumn Dream last week.
Prior to that, he placed in consecutive runs over 1300m before scoring his first win over 1500m in a Super Maiden at Hawkesbury.
'He got trapped in behind them and was a victim of horses coming back in his lap,' he said.
'He was a little bit shy in amongst them the other day and needs some sort of head gear so we have elected to go with the winkers this week.
'It's quite a strong race but he is in it up to his ears.
'He worked nicely on Thursday morning and should have no trouble with the quick back-up because he didn't get knocked around the other day.
'He has drawn a nice, soft gate to get a good run and he will be very competitive.'
The stable is chasing a reward with both Zoustrong and Autumn Heir in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m).
Zoustrong only made his race debut on June 27 at Moruya where he finished seventh behind Teepee Princess before an improved run when third to Commanding Belle.
'We are asking a lot of him. It's only his third race start but he raced well the other day,' said Price.
'We are talking a leap of faith with him because it's an Inglis Bonus race which he is eligible for.
'I think he is going to be positive with us not wanting him to be because of the way raced last start.
'He has come through the run with flying colours so we are happy to give him his chance.'
Autumn Heir is also in his first campaign but has had a little more race experience with four runs, finishing just behind the placegetters in his last two.
'He will be some sort of chance in this race too. He never had a whole pile of luck the other day.
'He is going to want 2000 metres eventually but we have kept him nice and fresh. Hopefully he is sharp enough for the 1500 metres.'
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