Having made his name rejuvenating the careers of inherited horses, Joe Pride has gone on to prove his diversity with a succession of stars he has managed from the outset.
Recent Group 1 winners Ceolwulf, Think About It and Private Eye have done all their racing for the Warwick Farm trainer and he has taken great satisfaction in watching their progression.
However, it was coaxing the likes of Vision And Power from a handicapper to a two-time major winner, and Sacred Choice from a class one performer to racing’s highest echelons that helped put Pride on the map.
“Honestly, there is nothing I enjoy better than someone ringing me up and saying, can you give this horse a go? Something that was maybe good early and has trained off. I love that challenge,” Pride said.
“I’ve never been able to afford to buy really expensive yearlings, so the next option for me is taking on a horse that has had some challenges but has good ability.
“I’d love to think our system is as good as any at getting the best out of them.”
It is a challenge Pride clearly still relishes, and he may have struck his toughest one yet in the form of Godolphin six-year-old Golden Mile.
A Caulfield Guineas winner at three, Golden Mile was retired to stud in 2024 but was injured after covering just a handful of mares, resulting in him being gelded and put back into work earlier this year, subsequently mixing his form but showing a glimmer of his best with a Group 1 placing behind Joliestar.
Pride took over his training at the start of the current season and is the first to admit he has been underwhelmed by the horse’s unplaced efforts in the Sydney and Russell Balding Stakes.
But he is equally adamant Golden Mile is showing the right signs at home and is banking on the addition of blinkers and improved fitness sparking significant improvement in Saturday’s The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
“He’s a good horse. He has been to stud, he’s come back, he’s been gelded. He has had a pretty full life, and I hope that hasn’t taken its toll on him because everything I’ve seen at home suggests it hasn’t and I’ve got a racehorse right there ready to go,” Pride said.
“He’s had two runs back now, he’s a big gross boy – his stable name is Sumo, that’s what he’s built like – and Sumo has needed a couple of runs, as you can imagine.
“He’s had them now so I’d like to think he can go on with it.
“Blinkers go on. I’m not going to say it’s D-day, but it’s close. He’s got to show he’s still got it there and I can’t imagine he will have an excuse on Saturday.”
Golden Mile was a $23 chance on Thursday with Jean Van Overmeire to ride from barrier six.
