KEMBLA GRANGE trainers Joseph Ible and father and son Robert and Luke Price had different reasons to celebrate home track victories today.
Ible scored with lightly-raced three-year-old Septime, who was having his first start for him, whilst Price Racing was relieved to finally get a victory out of All Machiavellian at his 16th start for the stable.
Septime ($7), ridden by Louise Day, turned over $2.30 favorite, Hawkesbury’s Stars And Bars, in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m), giving his owners an instant return on their recent purchase.
A $140,000 Inglis Classic yearling sale buy in 2021, Septime (pictured) was purchased online in early March for $40,000.
“I have to thank my brother Jack, who bought this horse and now is three for three buying tried horses for the stable,” Ible said.
“Septime has been excelling since he came to us, and I had a fair bit of confidence about him.
“He can be a bit funny in the barriers, and though he wasn’t the best to begin, Louise quickly got him into a good rhythm.
“She has done a lot of work with him, and it was good to see her win on the horse at his first run for us.
“We’ll let Septime progress through the grades, and hopefully a Midway in town beckons for him.”
Septime had won a Kembla Grange Maiden (1200m) on February 7 for previous trainer Jean Dubois, but was put on the market after finishing eighth in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) there 16 days later.
All Machiavellian ($6.50) came from last in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) to post his fourth victory – but his first for Rob and Luke Price.
Ridden by Tom Sherry, the All Too Hard four-year-old was slowly away but sustained a determined burst wide on the track to edge out Gendarmerie ($9.50) and Septime’s stablemate Cuban Granchico ($3.50 favorite), who couldn’t be fully tested over the concluding stages.
“Tom rode All Machiavellian a treat, but he has been a very frustrating animal,” Rob Price said.
“Touche to my son Luke, who persisted with the horse for a couple more runs than I probably would have, and also the owners, who are great supporters of the stable and have been very patient.”
All Machiavellian had won three of his first six starts for his previous trainer Greg Hickman, and his last victory was in a 1600m Benchmark 64 Handicap at Newcastle in October, 2021.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup and Royal Randwick trainer Michael Freedman’s second stable at Hawkesbury also had success, giving provincial trainers four of the eight races.
Widdup scored with recent stable acquisition Guzumped ($8.50), whilst Freedman won with Snitzel filly Resistible ($2.60 favorite).
Dundeel three-year-old Guzumped was transferred from Hong Kong-bound Mark Newnham’s Randwick stable only last Wednesday after trialling at his former home track two days earlier, when second to Smart Legend (who won the following race today) over 1050m.
“I’m very appreciative of Mark sending me a dozen horses, and seven of them are for Guzumped’s major part-owner Frank Mittiga,” Widdup said.
“Mark gave this horse three trials and mentioned that he needed around 1500m first-up.
“I noticed this 1600m Provincial Maiden Plate at Kembla, so it worked out well.
“Guzumped is a good style of horse, but has been a slow maturer.
“Hopefully he can go on with the job now that he has broken through.”
A $200,000 Gold Coast yearling buy in 2021, Guzumped had raced only once previously for Newnham when down the track in a 1200m Maiden at Wyong last July.
Freedman’s three-year-old filly Resistible was also sold at the same Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast, and fetched $270,000.
Given the run of the race outside leader Belriah ($31) by Provincial premiership front-runner Keagan Latham, Resistible was never seriously challenged once she took over in the straight and posted her second victory at her ninth start.
She had won a 2YO Maiden (1200m) on debut at Newcastle last June.
Star apprentice Zac Lloyd copped another suspension at his first day back after spending time on the sidelines.
Lloyd pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge on Ichiban ($21) in the 2YO Maiden Handicap (1400m).
He will begin his suspension on May 28 and can resume riding on June 11.
*Words John Curtis - May 22, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos*
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