It bemuses Joe Pride when people say he isn’t a trainer of two-year-olds.
It’s true he doesn’t have too many runners and when he does people take notice.
Kentucky Miss gave Pride his first two-year-old winner of the season at Warwick Farm earlier this month and Snow Surrender is out to make it a second in Saturday’s 2YO Plate at Randwick.
“I do train two-year-olds but I don’t rush them. If they get there under their own steam then I run them,” Pride said.
“These ones have made it because of their natural ability and precociousness.”
Kentucky Miss has the distinction of being the first winner from the first crop of Foxwedge and victory by Snow Surrender would be another breeding milestone.
“I’ve had the first winner by Foxwedge and I could have the first winner by Sepoy,” Pride said.
Foxwedge ran seventh in the 2011 Golden Slipper won by Sepoy and went on to win the Group One William Reid Stakes the following year.
The Slipper is also in Pride’s mind with the two fillies.
“I would love to have Slipper runner,” he said.
“I had Anatomica who ran fourth to Sebring (2008) and hopefully I can have one this year.”
To that end, Kentucky Miss will run in next week’s $150,000 Group Three Widden Stakes and a win would guarantee her a start in the Slipper on March 19.
Among the stable’s older brigade, Soros and Kanji are not certain to run at Randwick because of the wet track.
Randwick was a soft (7) early on Friday afternoon with more rain expected.
“Soros is unlikely which is a shame because he is going so well,” Pride said.
“On a wet track it just gives him too much to do in the second half of the race.
“Kanji has gone well in the wet but I am really keen to get him on top of the ground because I think he will be even better.
“I also entered him for Tuesday but if it’s too wet on Saturday it will most likely be the same a couple of days later.”
Soros is an acceptor for the tab.com.au (1600m) while Kanji is in the field for the Hyland Race Colours (2000m).
