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Veteran gelding to chase winning hat-trick on the back-up
It wasn't always Luke Price's intention to back-up Cuban Royale this Saturday at Rosehill, but the Kembla Grange horseman decided to roll the dice given how well he came through last Saturday's Randwick win.
The eight-year-old unleashed a powerful burst from last to win over 1300 metres and will back-up in the $150,000 Furphy Handicap (1400m).
It was the second benchmark 78 win in as many starts this campaign for the son of Casino Prince, who won first-up at Kembla Grange, and Price said the way he came through that race combined with the availability of this Saturday's benchmark 88 event prompted him to go again.
"With the programming now, he's up in the 80-range, and this race was there and it looks ideal for a back-up," Price, who trains in partnership with his father Robert, said.
"I've got great confidence that the horse will back up an absolute treat the way he's been since that last run."
Last week's success was the ninth career win, from 59 starts, for Cuban Royale and while Price was impressed with his ability to come from last, he doesn't anticipate he will find himself as far back from barrier six in the field that is down to 11 runners after a couple of early scratchings.
"I wouldn't think we're going to be back last, hopefully we'll be middle of the pack somewhere in a stalking range where we can get the right part of the track and really finish off," Price said.
Brock Ryan, who has been aboard for Cuban Royale's two wins this campaign, retains the ride on Saturday with top apprentice Dylan Gibbons to take the mount on the Price team's other runner at Rosehill, Noble Soldier.
The five-year-old, who has won seven of his 28 starts, finished second-last last time out, but had a torrid wide run in the Randwick race dominated by subsequent winners I Am Me and Dehorned Unicorn.
"They're two very smart horses the first two and, if you take them out of it, he's not beaten far at all and run pretty good sectionals as well given the ground he covered," Price said.
"He drops to 54 (kilos), he should just travel midfield and the way he is, if it gets the breaks at the right time, they'll know he's in the finish."
