Luke Price believes Count De Rupee can be the horse which launches the stable to 'the next level' and challenge top metropolitan rivals.
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The four-year-old gelding has already taken his place among the rising elite after a stunning second in the Golden Eagle, which now has Price eyeing a shot at next year's The Everest, the richest race in the world.
But the prizemoney earned from Count De Rupee's success could be the catalyst for Price and father and co-trainer Robert, to take them from a successful provincial operation, to being a future force in the major Sydney carnivals.
Price said he will be looking to attack the Magic Millions sales with a bolstered war chest, in a bid to find the next Count De Rupee, or Jamaea, who won the Group 2 Furious Stakes in September.
"That's the plan," he said .
"We won't have to go too crazy, because the Magic Millions are crazy, but the main thing is to get people involved (as owners).
"They don't have to go buying the whole horse, they can buy a small share, get a heap of mates in and get there on these big days, there's no bigger thrill.
"We've never spent more than $150,000 on a horse, but we picked him out at the sales, we're brought him all the way through, so it's pretty special we've done that."
Last year Kerry Parker's Think It Over gained a cult following finishing third behind Archedemus and Dawn Passage, before going on to win the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, then the Chelmsford, Hill Stakes, Craven Plate and Rosehill Gold Cup this preparation.
Count De Rupee had drifted to $3.50 with TAB after drawing gate 17 of the 20 horse field including four emergencies, but will take a place in Kembla Grange folklore as a hometown hero if he wins in the third edition of the $1 million The Gong.
"It's a bit surreal, it's something you build towards, I set high targets for the horse and it's where you want to be," he said.
"To have it all happen, like it happened with Jamaea at the start of the year, is pretty special.
"The owners were really patient and dad and I have been very patient with him and it's good to just be where he deserves to be.
"He has an unbelievable turn of foot and unbelievable ability for a horse of our calibre and he's going to take us to the next level I believe."
The Prices were within three strides of winning the Golden Eagle over the Rosehill 1500m, but still picked up a $1.5 million cheque for running second.
While the Golden Eagle, now boosted to $8 million prizemoney, will always be a bigger race than The Gong, Prize admitted there was added significance to taking out Kembla Grange's richest prize.
"If we can be a standout stable, you're going to draw those people who want to be owners," Price said.
"Like with Think It Over in Kerry's stable representing Kembla Grange and Count De Rupee and Jamaea representing the area as well, it just shows we can match it with the big boys in Sydney.
"We're going to be there on those real big days, it's pretty exciting for the area."
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