Joe Pride is often reluctant to use claiming apprentices but his philosophy has changed for two of his runners at Randwick.
The Warwick Farm trainer has booked Quayde Krogh to ease the burden on Filomena’s Grace when she makes a significant jump in class in Saturday’s SCG Trust Handicap (1400m).
Filomena’s Grace is poised to have her first start at Randwick after and impressive midweek win at Canterbury earlier this month in a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1250m.
The four-year-old’s next assignment is a Benchmark 85 Handicap and although already well weighted with 54kg, Krogh is able to lessen the load by another 3kg.
“I don’t mind taking these horses on. I thought with the steep rise in class she’d get even more weight off her back, so claiming was the go,” Pride said.
“She’s a pretty straight forward ride. She’ll roll forward, be in the first couple and she’s a real wet tracker.
“Her two runs back have shown she’s come back in really good order and on these wet tracks a horse with no weight on their back can be hard to catch.”
Pride has also engaged in-form apprentice Jean Van Overmeire for consistent gelding Easy Eddie who is aiming for back-to-back wins when he runs in the Dad & Daves Turf Handicap (1200m).
Van Overmeire’s claim means Easy Eddie carries 59kg, the equal top weight on a track classed in the heavy range, ground the three-year-old is yet to encounter.
“After the claim he comes in with the same weight he carried the other day so he’s not too badly off though it’s a pretty competitive field,” Pride said.
“I’m hoping what he’s gained in fitness offsets the fact he’s carrying a lot of weight.”
Pride also brings two-year-old gelding Knight Arrow ($13) to town for the first time for the Living Turf Handicap (1200m) following his maiden at Gosford last week.
“It’s a big step up for him, two-year-old Saturday company, but he was impressive at Gosford against a very moderate field,” Pride said.
“He’s shaping up quite well and he’s handled a wet track. He’ll have this run and go to the paddock.”
