Trainer Luke Price is confident his gelding Noble Soldier has what it takes to step up to the provincial class at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
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The three-year-old is among a strong field for race four, the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1200 metres on the Prices' home track.
Noble Soldier had been in great form, including saluting twice at Moruya before he was given a spell last October. Price is upbeat about his bay gelding's chances.
"He's a promising horse. Hopefully he steps up to provincial level coming up from the country grade; I'm confident that he can," Price said.
"He's drawn a bit tricky, but [jockey] Brock [Ryan] knows the horse well. I think he will do well."
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Noble Soldier will be one of four Price horses to run at Kembla this weekend.
Promising filly Jamaea will be up against some strong opposition in race one, the Maiden Plate (1200m).
"She's only a small filly and she's going to have to improve a lot to beat the Godolphin horses that beat her in the trials," Price said.
"But we have a bit of an opinion of her and I think she will run well. She will probably need the experience but she will give a good account."
The Prices will cap off the day with two runners - Our Bambino and Budderoo Knight - in race five, the Benchmark 68 Handicap (over 1400m). Gelding Our Bambino will hope for a happy return after saluting at Kembla last September, while gelding Budderoo Knight will look to build on a handy last-start effort at Canterbury earlier this month.
"Our Bambino will probably need the run from a good gate with a good jockey. And Buderoo Knight showed glimpses of his best form last start at Canterbury. He runs really well at the track and distance," Price said.
"I think they're having a bit of revamp [at Kembla Grange] so we won't race here for two months after that. Hopefully we can take full advantage of it on Saturday and have a winner or two."