Trainer Joe Pride was as enthusiastic about owner Paul Fudge’s future in racing as he was about Saturday’s Warwick Farm winner Sienna Red.
Fudge is an entrepreneur in the mining industry and last year was ranked 38th on Forbes’ list of the top 40 richest people in Australia.
His background is not dissimilar to that of Nathan Tinkler who set up the Patinack Farm racing and breeding operation after making his fortune in mining.
Pride says Fudge, who races Sienna Red under the Waratah Thoroughbred Syndicate banner, is also looking to make his mark in the industry.
“He wants to breed horses to race which is quite unique,” Pride said.
“He’s setting up a great operation in the Southern Highlands and he isn’t sparing any expense.
“It will be a place where horses can spell and pre-train.”
Pride said Fudge raced horses with a number of trainers including leading Victorian horseman Peter Moody along with Sydney’s Guy Walter and Grahame Begg.
He has found a handy mare in Sienna Red, who showed early promise before her form tapered off.
However, Pride has got the lightly-raced four-year-old racing in great heart and her victory in the Fernwood Moorebank Hcp (1600m) was her second in succession.
“She had some immaturity issues in her knees,” Pride said.
“She is getting up to her right trip now, I might give her another run before I tip her out.
“She’s four now but she’s very much on the way up and I’m looking forward to her getting significantly better.”
Winning jockey Corey Brown said Sienna Red was still a work in progress.
“Joe has finally got her back into the form where she kicked off,” Brown said.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet but this mare still has more to offer.”
Sienna Red ($3.20 fav) overpowered her rivals in the straight to score by a length from Miskish ($6) with Daytona Beach ($17) three-quarters of a length back third.
The winner’s stablemate Othello opened favourite but was a noted drifter from $3 to $4.60 and jockey Christian Reith said he didn’t handle the heavy track.
Othello finished second last of the seven runners.
AAP TURF
