They share the same name but one is a already a multiple Group One-winning trainer and the other is aspiring to win his first.
Prominent Caulfield trainer Mick Price heads across town to Flemington on Saturday with the Victoria Derby favourite Tarzino.
Luke Price, who is no relation, has travelled to Melbourne from the NSW south coast with a horse called Man Of Choice, a $26 chance in the blue riband.
The son of respected trainer Robert Price, Luke is the grandson of the late Kevin Robinson, an Inter-Dominion winning driver and a Group One-winning thoroughbred trainer.
Luke’s mother Patricia is one of Robinson’s 12 children, six boys and six girls, many of whom followed him into the racing industry in both codes.
After his career was ended by serious injury and increasing weight, Luke naturally gravitated to training and spent time with Guy Walter at Warwick Farm before returning to the family property.
He has a team of three in his own right and helps his father with his much larger string.
Man Of Choice’s last-start third in the Spring Champion Stakes means Price is already one-up on his father.
“Dad has had a fourth in a Group One race with Ivory Pegasus so I’m already ahead of him,” Price said.
The Spring Champion was Man Of Choice’s target but his powers of recovery kept the Derby dream alive.
“He had a fairly soft run in the Spring Champion and was bouncing around two days later,” Price said.
“He’s a pretty laid-back horse and nothing bothers him and when he came out of the race so well, we thought we’d give it a go.
“The whole thing is unreal. I’m 32 and I never thought I’d be here yet.
“From day one this horse has looked and felt like a stayer.
“I think he’ll get 2500 metres but like everyone else it’s an unknown.
“He probably hasn’t got the (pedigree) page to say he can but he’s got the nature that tells me he can.”
What he hasn’t got is a good barrier with Price saying he would have to go back from gate 16 of 17.
Tarzino jumps from 10 which his trainer says should help him take up a forward position and the market agrees with the colt into $2.35 on Thursday.
Mick Price has tried more than once to win the Derby with his best result second in 2003 with Kempinsky.
“I hope the market is right and he wins. I like the short-priced favourites. Most of them win,” he said.
While Price operates a large stable that employs a racing manager and bloodstock manager along with many foreman and handlers, his younger counterpart will rely on an unpaid member of staff to help out on the big day.
“Dad’s coming down to help me saddle up and to be part of it all,” Luke Price said.
