La Remlap hasn’t lived up to Joe Pride’s expectations so far this campaign but the trainer is keeping the faith with the three-year-old.
“She’s been disappointing, without doubt,” Pride said of La Remlap’s current campaign.
“She’s fully wound-up for this race on Saturday though, so we’ll judge her on this.”
The daughter of Choisir is one of two chances for the trainer in Saturday’s Candana Handicap (1100m) at Randwick along with Geared Up.
Geared Up is favourite for the Open handicap while La Remlap sits on the third line of betting with Canberra-based three-year-old Unanimously splitting the Pride pair.
“It doesn’t look like an overly-strong Open handicap so I’m expecting them both to be very competitive,” Pride said.
The Warwick Farm trainer was anticipating big things from La Remlap during the autumn and the filly returned in February with an excellent second to Halekulani from a wide barrier carrying 57.5kg.
Since then the filly has finished sixth in the Listed Eskimo Prince (1200m), last in the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) and resumed from a let-up with a ninth against her own age and sex over 1100m at Scone on May 14.
Pride said he had only tinkered around with a few minor things but is hopeful of a return to form with apprentice Chad Schofield to take 3kg off her 53kg on Saturday.
“I think I’m in the right race and I think she’ll run well,” Pride said.
Stablemate Geared Up has won two barrier trials on his home track ahead of his return and the gelding has been placed in all five runs first-up from a spell.
The five-year-old was successful in a 1200m Open Handicap when resuming from a 10-week let-up at Rosehill in November.
“Geared Up is a good, honest performer,” Pride said.
“What you see is what you get with him and he’ll run well.”
The trainer found it difficult to split the pair.
“It will probably come down to run-of-the-race stuff, there’s not that much between them,” he said.
In-form jockey Christian Reith has the ride on Geared Up and he will also partner the Pride-trained Othello who resumes in the Blackwoods Handicap (1200m).
AAP TURF
