By Craig Kerry
Joe Pride believes there is a “culture of scratching” because of wide barriers in Sydney racing, but maintained he is not about to follow the trend.
The Warwick Farm trainer heads to Randwick on Saturday with nine runners, including two on the seven-day back-up and six with double-figure barriers, as he eyes another memorable day at the track where he had a winning treble two weeks ago.
Adam Hyeronimus riding Headley Grange to victory at Randwick on June 7.Credit: Getty Images
His team includes Accredited, Excelladus and second emergency Cosmonova in an extremely competitive benchmark 94 handicap (1200m) to finish the program. Accredited ($9 Sportsbet) has drawn 16, while Excelladus ($34) has gate 21.
“It’s this time of the year and I have these horses up, and I’m happy to run them,” Pride said when asked if all would take their place.
“There’s a bit of a culture of scratching horses in Sydney racing at the moment, but I look over the box in the morning and if the horse is fit and well, I send them around.
“Good barrier, bad barrier, you have good luck or bad luck from any of those, so I just like running the horses. That’s what they are there for. They are not ornaments.
Trainer Joe Pride.Credit: Getty Images
“They don’t always win when you expect them to, so the more opportunities you get to run them, the better.
“My old boss [John Size], a long time ago now in Sydney, he would very rarely scratch a horse because of the barrier. So much can unfold once those barriers open … trying to second guess what’s going to happen out there is fraught with danger.”
Pride nominated Accredited for the feature Civic Stakes (1400m) but opted for the shorter trip. Accredited was a summer star for Pride, winning three in a row, but he has returned with fifth in the Takeover Target Stakes and a ninth at Sandown, while trying to avoid wet tracks. Randwick was a soft 6 on Thursday with mostly clear skies forecast.
“He was disappointing the other day at Sandown,” said Pride, who sits fifth in the Sydney trainers’ premiership with 38 winners at a strike rate of 14.7 per cent.
“I was tempted to run him in the Civic, but he’s a month between runs, so I thought I’d give him another go at 1200. We’ve got a good jock [Nash Rawiller], and that’s a huge advantage. I couldn’t get a jockey for the Civic. He’ll run really well.”
Pride had better luck at the draw for the listed Civic with last-start winner Headley Grange, which was a $4.20 favourite with Jason Collet to ride from gate four.
Collett takes over from in-form Adam Hyeronimus, given the drop to 54 kilograms. Headley Grange, now with seven wins and seven placings in 17 starts, returned from a let-up and two trials with a slashing finish to win a benchmark 94 two weeks ago.
“Geez, he’s come back well,” Pride said. “He was impressive the other day, and he surprised me. He’s always been a nice horse, but his win the other day was really impressive, and he just looks like he’s gone up another level, which is great.
“He’s very versatile. He’s won up to a mile, and he’s sprinted well at 1300. Track conditions won’t be a problem, whatever they turn out there.”
He also has Estadio Mestalla ($51), which was runner-up in the race last year to Diamond Diesel and resumed with seventh behind Headley Grange. Chad Schofield takes over from apprentice Ben Osmond from gate 11.
“The market has missed him,” Pride said. “His performance was disappointing first-up, but he will run really well. He’s a very honest, genuine horse. I don’t think the kid rode him really well the other day. I think with Chad back on him, he’ll be in the finish.”
Wet-track specialist Cool Jakey ($12, gate 10) gives Pride a third chance in the $200,000 race. Deep into his preparation, Cool Jakey was fourth last start after two wins and three placings from his previous five.
“Cool Jakey will just roll forward and do what he does,” he said. “He’s had a really good winter, and he’ll be up there in the mix. It’s a very fast race, with those speedsters drawn out wide. It’s the fastest looking 1400 you’ve ever seen, so they will scoot, but he’s a reliable old horse.”
In the seventh, Storm The Ramparts ($3.90) shoots for a third successive benchmark 78 handicap 1000m win at Randwick but has to lump 61.5kg.
“He’s creeping up in the weights, but he’s honest, he’s genuine. He’ll be thereabouts,” he said.
Little Cointreau ($6), which was third last start, and Aberlour ($31) are on the quick back-up in the eighth, a 1400m benchmark 78.
