The recent addition of Candlewick to the stable has given Joe Pride the reins to two of the better related mares in training.
By Pierro out of Pinocchio, Candlewick is a half-sister to 2020 Everest winner Classique Legend, while the Warwick Farm conditioner also puts the polish on Winx’s little sister City Of Lights.
While the latter has already notched an important stakes win in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown, Pride is keen for Candlewick to be given her chance at capturing some black type sooner rather than later.
“That’s the plan for a mare like that,” Pride said.
“She is so well bred, a half-sister to Classique Legend, so that’s the next step for her to try to get to stakes grade.
“We want to try to knock off one of these Saturday races first and build up her benchmark and confidence. She is only lightly raced, and I’ve got good reason to expect the best is yet to come from her.”
Candlewick made her debut for the yard with an encouraging placing over 1100m at Randwick earlier this month.
She steps up to 1200m for Saturday’s Spelling at Coolmore Mt White Handicap and from barrier two, Pride will be disappointed if she isn’t in the finish.
“I thought her run was good first-up, they were just too sharp for her,” he said.
“She got into an awkward spot in between horses and back to mares grade, she will be very hard to beat on Saturday.”
Pride is keeping a close eye on track conditions for stablemate Cool Jakey, who may not take his place in the Carrington Stakes (1400m) if Randwick continues to dry out.
The gelding’s best form is on rain-affected ground and while Pride has no issue backing him up from his unplaced effort in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast last weekend, he does want the right conditions.
“I think he will handle the back-up, but it’s more about getting him back on the right surface,” he said.
“He didn’t really do much the other day. He got a dry track and basically put up the white flag, so I’ve brought him home and he seems fine.
“He is usually very honest, very genuine, and he is always thereabouts.”
