Dual Group Three winner Pecans is proven on a quick back-up and her trainer Joe Pride is not about to change what works.
The mare runs in Saturday’s December Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm, six days before her defence of the Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford.
A year ago, she ran second in a benchmark race at the corresponding Warwick Farm meeting before her Gosford win the following Thursday.
She has also won the Group Three Godolphin Crown and Listed Ladies Day Cup, both at Hawkesbury, a few days after barrier trials.
“She is in terrific order,” Pride said. “It’s not quite as quick a back-up as last year. The Gosford meeting is a day later so it’s six days.
“Sam Weatherley will claim on her on Saturday and Corey (Brown) will be back for the Belle Of The Turf.”
Pride had entered Pecans for last Saturday’s Villiers Stakes (1600m) but decided to keep her at home when she got 57kg, a weight he thought would test her.
Pride also has Easy Eddie, Luckie Louie and Tahsin at the rare Saturday meeting at his home track.
Easy Eddie is by Super Easy, the 2012 Singapore horse of the year and a brother to the Pride-trained sprinters Tiger Tees, Terravista and Ball Of Muscle.
At his first summer start, Easy Eddie was third, beaten less than a length, in an 1100m-race won by Kapajack.
He steps up to 1200m on Saturday.
“His first-up run was super and stands as a good guide to Saturday,” Pride said.
“I think he will go well and Robbie Dolan will ride.
“Lucky Louie gets into her race on the limit weight with Brock Ryan to ride. I’m having an apprentices day.”
Dolan will also ride Tahsin if Pride decides to run him but any rain would likely rule him out.
