Joe Pride has two reasons to be glad brilliant filly Atlantic Jewel is not among the acceptors for Saturday’s Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.
Not only does it mean one less rival for his outstanding sprinter and odds-on favourite Rain Affair, but it has also freed up Michael Rodd to partner his other entrant Neeson.
“I’m pretty happy Atlantic Jewel isn’t there,” Pride said.
“It meant Michael Rodd could ride Neeson.
“I’ve seen what she can do, even over sprint trips, and I didn’t want to see her there.
“She could be anything.”
Atlantic Jewel will instead go around against her own sex in the Sapphire Stakes (1200m) while Pride will saddle up one-third of the TJ Smith (1200m) field.
TAB Sportsbet installed Rain Affair the $1.90 favourite on Wednesday, ahead of last-start William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge at $2.20 with Neeson third elect at $13.
While Pride holds Neeson in high regard he says the early markets have got it right.
“Rain Affair would have to run below his best for Neeson to beat him,” Pride said.
“Nothing went his way last start and he still had the tenacity to fight them off.
“Neeson is a very good horse in his own right and over this distance. But all things being equal Rain Affair is the best for the stable.”
Rain Affair was a courageous winner of the Challenge Stakes last start after being taken on early by Winter King, who dropped out to run a distant last.
Some horses can be vulnerable at their next start following a tough run but Pride won’t hear of such talk about Rain Affair.
“It couldn’t have been any harder than Melbourne when he was on his side crabbing his way up the straight, plus he had the trip down there and back,” Pride said.
“He’s got amazing resilience.
“I thought he might have been vulnerable the other day, particularly when he got it served up to him, but he came through that okay.”
Rain Affair has drawn the outside gate in the field of six with Neeson to jump from five.
While Neeson has been overshadowed by his high-profile stablemate, he does boast strong credentials and was a scintillating winner of the Group Two Premiere Stakes at the track and distance last campaign.
His third to Rain Affair in the Challenge Stakes showed he was back on track and Pride said the TJ Smith had been a long-planned target.
“This race has always been the plan for him from when he won the Premiere in the spring and he’s come through his last start well,” Pride said.
