Estadio Mestalla will have an unconventional build up to the Stradbroke Handicap, but it’s a purposeful ploy trainer Joe Pride has used successfully before.
The gelding will step out in an 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, travel by float to Brisbane with stablemates Private Eye and Headley Grange on Thursday, and line up in Queensland’s showpiece race on Saturday.
“I have done it with him twice before. He trialled within the week and won that $300,000 race on Melbourne Cup day, and I did it with him the week he ran second in The Ingham,” Pride said.
“It’s a formula that has worked with him in the past and I’m going to do it again.”
Given he hasn’t raced for close to a month, Estadio Mestalla hasn’t been at the forefront of Stradbroke discussions, while barn mate Headley Grange is a $6 equal favourite after winning the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) last start.
But Pride has cautioned punters not to let Estadio Mestalla under their radar, as he has been rapt with his two runs from a spell and has also made a crucial gear change for the Group 1.
“He was really good at Hawkesbury over the short course, and the other day (at Scone) he was enormous. He was a bit slow away but gunned it home,” Pride said.
“I’ll put blinkers on him for the ‘Straddie’. They’re a good gear change for him. He won’t wear them in the trial, but he will wear them in the Straddie. He goes well in them.”
As for the month between runs, Pride says that has likewise been deliberate.
“No problem. He will have had two trials, and it has been one hundred per cent by design,” he said.
Chad Schofield has the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) ride on Estadio Mestalla, who shares the fourth line of betting with barn mate Private Eye (Nash Rawiller) at $15.
Adam Hyeronimus retains the mount on Headley Grange.
