The parallels between former stable star Sacred Choice and Adorabeel are not lost on Joe Pride as he prepares for the latter’s seasonal return at Rosehill.
Like Sacred Choice, Adorabeel came to Pride as a tried horse with a modest record.
Under the trainer’s care she progressed to stakes grade, emulating the feat of Sacred Choice five years earlier when she won the Aspiration Quality during the Sydney autumn carnival.
Sacred Choice returned the following spring to win the Group One Myer Classic in Melbourne and six months later added the Doncaster Mile.
Pride isn’t suggesting Adorabeel will reach the same heights but he isn’t ruling it out either.
“Sacred Choice kept getting better and you’d like to think this mare can do something similar,” Pride said.
“Although it is a tough act to follow.”
The late Guy Walter nurtured Adorabeel through her early career and as a daughter of Savabeel, Pride said it was no surprise she had taken time and maturity to flourish.
The mare resumes in Saturday’s Unbreakable Hilux Celebration Day Handicap at Rosehill following two preparatory barrier trials and Pride will not be surprised to see her run a cheeky race.
“She races well throughout her preparation and she’ll run a good race fresh,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say she couldn’t win on Saturday.”
Pride’s biggest challenge with Adorabeel this campaign is settling on her best distance range.
The mare has won up to 1800m but the trainer says all options remain on the table as he weighs up whether to target her towards middle-distance races or extend her to a staying trip.
A $10 chance on Saturday, Adorabeel will oppose stablemate Casual Choice ($9) who comes to the race ready to peak after two runs from a spell.
Centre Pivot is a $3.60 favourite to win his first start for new trainer John Sargent.
The Rosehill meeting ushers in the start of the new racing season and will go ahead without jockeys’ premiership winner Hugh Bowman who will be in Darwin for their Cup carnival.
However, five-time champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller is expected to make an immediate impact with favourites in three of the eight races including You’ll Never who is top pick to take out the Listed Winter Challenge.
