By Jordan Gerrans
Despite not ever laying eyes on Sumomentsomewhere until he turned up at her stable as a late three-year-old, Alberton trainer Shannon Price knew exactly how to prepare the gelding.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere started his career in the Victorian barn of Jess Tubbs before missing the majority of 2021 through a hock injury, which required surgery.
And, when he was eventually sent north to the Sunshine State, the pacer and his new trainer – Price – immediately felt at home together.
The 48-year-old Price prepared Somebeachsomewhere’s mother Special Moment to Group 1 glory earlier in her career after originally breeding the mare.
“She is from a good family that we have had all their lives, we have had five generations of it,” Price said of Special Moment.
“We know them inside and out, with Somebeachsomewhere being a protégé of one of the mare’s.”
The hock injury required surgery and when the emerging pacer was working his way back, the Price stable then emerged as a new destination as he ramped up his recovery.
The four-year-old has settled into Queensland beautifully, winning seven of his first nine efforts for Price, including six straight at one stage, as this Saturday he goes searching for a Group level prize at Albion Park, like his mother.
Somebeachsomewhere will need to contend with a tricky draw in the Group 2 Queensland Sun – a brand new race in 2022 – with the winner gaining direct entry into The Rising Sun for 2022, which will be run seven days later.
Special Moment did not race on for much longer following her Group 1 triumph in the 2015 QBRED Triad Final for 2YO Fillies with Somebeachsomewhere her first foal.
It was a memorable night when Special Moment claimed one of the five Group 1's Price has earned in her career.
“When she won that race it was sort of a Steven Bradbury style,” Price remembers with a laugh.
“There was a bit of carnage in the field at the 400 metre mark but she was able to cross the line first and they paid her out for first in prize money.
“It was time to retire her and she was put in foal to Somebeachsomewhere and this is the result.
“He has done good, winning seven of his last nine since I have had him, so he is above average. He is one of the good ones.”
Somebeachsomewhere is lovingly referred to as “Parker” around the Price barn and stable driver Mitch Cox – who is set to debut in the sulky on Thursday – cherishes his time with the big gelding.
“He is in career best form at the moment,” Cox said.
“I have driven him around home and he is almost the stable star at the moment.
“It makes it worthwhile getting up in the morning and working horses when you have one like Parker around.
“He is a bit of a character but he is a lovely horse.
“It is a dream come true to have horses like him – not everyone can get ones like him – so we are very fortunate to have one like Parker.”