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By Ray Hickson

There’s already a Plan B in place for Robert and Luke Price’s ex-Godolphin recruit Zaragoza should the weather gods intervene and prevent Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting from proceeding.

Trainer Luke Price

Luke Price said the preference would be for the four-year-old to stay home for the Join The Warra Club Handicap (1000m) at Kembla but he’s also engaged in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday as a back up.

The gelding was secured for $60,000 via an Inglis Digital sale and Price said with only three starts under his belt, including a Kembla heavy track win back in January, there has to be some upside.

“He’s a lovely animal and I still think he’s better than a Class 1 Kembla Grange horse,’’ Price said.

“I’m pretty sure there’s something still in the tank, what he shows me at home I would think he’d get through to Midway grade.

“The owner was looking for a tried horse and he fit the mould, I thought we were going to have to go more to get him.

“I hope we’re right that he was a good buy, you never know until he money is in the bank. He’s a lovely big strong type showing great ability and is a lovely horse to have around the stable.”

Zaragoza is a half brother to Group 1 winner Zapateo and Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls.

He was meant to kick off for the Price stable at the Kembla meeting two weeks ago but was scratched at the barriers and went back to the trials, running second at Randwick last week.

“It didn’t go to plan originally when the horse played up in the barriers at the first start we wanted to give him,’’ he said.

“I don’t love trialling him a week out but I still want my options going forward. I think he’s going well enough to win in town on a wet track.

“He’s won on a wet track, he’s trialled well on a wet track, whether he’s a wet tracker time will tell.

“I’d love to go around (Thursday) but whether the weather gods are on our side time will tell.

“I like 1100m more than 1000m if anything but I thought his class would take him a long way.

“If he runs Saturday he’d be a really good each way chance on a track that would really suit him and he’d be going around 53kg on his back.

“He has a strong family behind him, the mare’s not getting any younger but has produced Group 1 winners, Everest placegetters, and he seems like he’s got no issues.”

If Kembla Grange survives, Price is hopeful Mega Fight can finally tick off is maiden win in the Gong Spring Carnival Is Coming Handicap (1600m).

Zaragoza runs second in a Randwick trial on June 28

An unfortunate mishap cost the gelding his chance to win at Hawkesbury early last week, he missed the start by five lengths and was beaten 1-1/2 lengths, but Price feels he’s found a nice race for the horse to atone at what would be his 12th start.

“He’s been a bit of punishment, he finds a way to get beaten,’’ he said.

“He kicked the barriers when the gates opened and got his leg stuck up on the board. As long as he’s on his best behaviour he’ll be very hard to beat because he handles the track conditions.”

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting