A start in the Listed Australia Day Cup on his home track is on the cards for Bullets High after the gelding raced to a determined victory at Wyong.
With Alysha Collett in the saddle, four-year-old Bullets High produced a tough performance up on the pace to narrowly defeat Unlimited and Fulfilled in a tight finish to Saturday’s De Bortoli Wines Benchmark 88 Handicap (2100m).
The victory was the second of this preparation for Bullets High but his first in his past six starts which had netted four placings in his previous five outings.
“He’s been a very consistent horse, to be fair to him,” Pride said after Bullets High’s victory.
“I don’t think there’s been any lack of effort there from him but maybe a little lack of race craft.
“He’s getting it together. He loves Warwick Farm and it’s been the plan all preparation to get him to the Australia Day Cup there, and that’s where we’ll head next.”
The Australia Day Cup (2400m) is staged at the Warwick Farm meeting on January 27.
Pride said Bullets High was tenacious in Saturday’s victory, which brought up a race-to-race winning double for the trainer after Headley Grange took out the 1300m benchmark-72 event in the previous race.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus got going around the field on Headley Grange before the home turn and he raced to the lead in the straight before holding on late to defeat Imposant by half a length.
It was a fifth win in 13 starts for Headley Grange.
“I said to Adam, he’s a horse that can run a mile so don’t be afraid to get going on him early,” Pride said.
“He’s got a bit of stamina and he rode him like a horse that could run a trip.
“He was a little bit soft late but he was probably entitled to be that.
“He’s been very consistent in his performances in his whole career and I’m sure that’s not the best race he’s going to win.”
