Stakes winner and Group One placegetter Easy Eddie has been through the wringer over the past 12 months and it is testament to his resilience that he is back at the races.
The six-year-old has been off the scene since last year’s Melbourne spring carnival following a health scare that trainer Joe Pride said almost claimed the sprinter’s life.
“He got a virus and he ended up developing pneumonia,” Pride said.
“He also got colitis so he was on death’s door. He was in a bad way.”
The fighting qualities Easy Eddie has shown on the racetrack helped him pull to through and he will resume alongside stablemate Passage Of Time in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
He has been given three conditioning barrier trials but Pride expects him to need the run after his lengthy and dramatic layoff.
Passage Of Time has also been well tuned-up for his return and Pride is anticipating a competitive performance against a tough field headed by the James Cummings-trained pair of class sprinter Viridine and the emerging Varda.
“Passage Of Time is a little bit more on the spot for this one. He’s had three trials as well, he looks really healthy and we’re very happy with him,” Pride said.
The trainer is also keen to see what Threeood can produce in the Iron Jack Handicap (1100m) after a career-best campaign in which she notched four wins and four placings from 10 starts.
The mare is known around the stable for being “a bit mad” and Pride says her quirky behaviour has risen to a new level, but he’s not sure if that is a good sign or a bad one.
“I’ll tell you on Saturday,” he said.
The trainer will also saddle up Stockman, who backs up from his closing sixth over 2000 metres at Kembla Grange to face his first serious staying test in the Bisley Workwear Handicap over 2400 metres.
