The off-season winter races in Sydney invariably throw up a handful of emerging black-type performers, and Big Red Tequila is shaping as a mare worth tracking into the future.
A daughter of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, the four-year-old has been given a typically patient grounding by trainer Joe Pride, making her debut as a late three-year-old and given time to work through her grades.
Having strung together three wins from four starts over the summer, she resumes in the Cornerstone Risk Group Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday, a distance over which she is undefeated.
“She’s a nice mare who has come back really well,” Pride said.
“She has trialled up well and the 1000 fresh will be perfect for her. She won over 1000 first-up last time, and she will take a power of beating.”
Big Red Tequila has drawn barrier three and will have the services of Sam Clipperton who has ridden her in all her trials and races since he came out of retirement at the end of last year.
He was also the regular jockey of Pride’s former top sprinter Think About It, first linking with that horse when the gelding was making his way through benchmark races before they combined to capture the 2023 The Everest.
While Big Red Tequila may never reach those heights, Pride does believe she can make her way to stakes company.
“I’d expect her to eventually,” he said.
Big Red Tequila will be joined in the race by stablemate Dear Jewel, a model of consistency who has finished in the top four at all six runs this preparation, including when third behind Saturday’s rival Prima Bella at Randwick last start.
“She’s honest and reliable. This is the top of her grade, as in she probably can’t progress past this, but she is fit and well, she has drawn well and she will run a cheeky race,” Pride said.
Andrew Adkins has the ride on Dear Jewel from gate two.
