Joe Pride has been patient with three-year-old Green Beret and is looking forward to getting the debut winner back to the races at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Green Beret made a winning start to his career at Canterbury in December and returns to the same track for the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1250m).
“He’s a pretty exciting prospect,” Pride said.
“His first win was excellent and I’ve just given him more time. He’s by Commands and I know the breed pretty well and they tend to come good later in their three-year-old careers.”
Christian Reith, who combined with the Pride-trained Rain Affair for second in last Saturday’s Group One All Aged Stakes, has the ride on Green Beret after partnering the gelding in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm three weeks ago.
“He’s only had the one trial but it was excellent,” Pride said.
“If you see him in the mounting yard, he’s an impressive-looking animal.”
Green Beret is one of three runners for Pride at the Canterbury meeting with two-year-old Umfazi to make her debut in the Tabsportsbet Handicap (1100m).
Umfazi has had two trials at her home track of Warwick Farm to prepare her for her debut where she’ll be ridden by Tommy Berry, while Reith will partner lightly-raced three-year-old Purrfect in the Mossman @ Vinery Handicap (1550m).
Pride ended the Sydney autumn carnival at Randwick on Saturday with a victory to Tiger Tees in the Listed Hall Mark Stakes.
Pride said Tiger Tees had come through the first-up win in good order and would head to Brisbane for his next start.
Neeson finished a close third in the same race and will also head north while Rain Affair has been sent to the paddock.
“Neeson will run in the (Group One) BTC Cup on Saturday week and Tiger Tees will run in the (Group Three) BRC Sprint the following week,” Pride said.
