Joe Pride has made a name for himself rejuvenating horses who started their career in rival stables and he will unleash two newcomers at Randwick on Saturday.
Gatsby’s and Candlewick will both have their first start for the in-form Warwick Farm horseman in the $160,000 Schweppes BM78 Handicap (1100m).
Candlewick is a half-sister to The Everest winner Classique Legend who came to Pride after starting her career with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, while Gatsby’s was formerly trained by Chris Waller but was sent to Pride after a change in ownership.
The son of Snitzel has tested the patience of punters since the most of his two wins, in the Listed The Rosebud almost 18 months ago, but Pride is happy with what he has seen from the gelding while in his care.
“I haven’t put a lot of pressure on him , but what I’ve seen from him so far I’ve been happy with,” he said.
“His head seems to be in the right place and that’s often the key with these older horses. If you get them thinking the right way they’ll race well, so I’ve been pleased.”
After a low-key 799m trial at Warwick Farm on December 8, Gatsby’s was again quietly-ridden and finished fifth, beaten three lengths by Candlewick, in a 740m trial at the same track a fortnight later.
A one-time 90-rater, his official handicapper rating has dropped to 79, leaving him as the 60.5kg topweight for Saturday’s race, in which he will start from the outside barrier with Jay Ford aboard.
“He’s a pretty fast horse so the barrier might not be too costly for him – I would have preferred her drew well, obviously – but that’ll do,” Pride said.
Candlewick fared better the barrier draw, coming up with gate eight, and the four-year-old daughter of Pierro who has won half of her six starts heads into Saturday’s race off two trials.
“I’ve been really pleased with her, she’s done particularly well at home and her trials have been very good,” Pride said.
“She’s new to my place, so we’re just taking her on face value, but on face value, the way she’s trialled up and the way she’s progressed I would have thought she’s a good prospect.
“She’s lightly-raced enough that the best of her is hopefully ahead of her.”
Candlewick, who has 56kg and will be ridden by Zac Lloyd, holds down the second line of betting in the Schweppes Handicap behind the Kris Less-trained Hawker Hall, while Gatsby’s is set to start double-figure odds outside Black Type company for the first time in his career.
