Pride on the line after confidence-crushing end to the season
By Max Presnell
Joe Pride is out to wave his magic wand over an intriguing Missile Stakes in the first Sydney Saturday meeting of the new season at Rosehill Gardens, but first, forgive a punter’s lament on a dismal end to the 2023 season.
Taking the advice to “gamble responsibly” is testing when indoctrinated with the perceived wisdom of Eric Connelly, a sage of yesteryear, who decreed: “Money lost, nothing lost; confidence lost, everything lost.” Confidence was certainly diluted playing my exotics listed in this space last Saturday.
Argentia, pictured left winning the Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield, is now with Joe Pride.Credit: Getty
The parlay commenced with Shaken, which rattled and rolled in front until stopping late in the first at Royal Randwick. Shaken bled from both nostrils and is now taking an enforced spell.
Roussillon was a parlay fancy in the opening event at Moonee Valley. Roussillon bounded at the start, struck trouble on landing, went back in the field and ended up unplaced before recording the fastest last 500 metres of the meeting on a savagely biased circuit favouring front-runners (a blight on Melbourne racing).
Yes, the parlay went for Salire in the Randwick Highway. He was favoured because of the six gate and Nash Rawiller over Iron Will (11) and bush jockey Billy Owen, and he had his chance. Owen made full use of the tactical speed of Iron Will and scored. Good ride.
So, too, Jay Ford on Pride’s Anagain in the last, which appealed in the exotics as a quinella with Mirra View. Stewards reported Mirra View was bumped at the 350m and was “then held up for the remainder of the race”.
Earlier, Estadio Mestalla, listed in the parlay, was slow to begin, pulled hard and had little left at the finish. Furthermore, he ended up lame.
To cap off an unsavoury Saturday, Buddy Franklin’s action shortened stride rapidly for the Swans during their match against the Bombers. Buddy retired.
Being a late convert to AFL, Buddy made me regret not taking an earlier involvement. Hopefully the mighty Rabbits can find one like him in the near future. At 36, Franklin still had the bounce of a Pride veteran. Think Eduardo.
Pride has the knack of improving horses from other stables and has three contenders in the Missile – Big Parade, Dragonstone and Argentia – out to continue the trend, which the market anticipates.
Big Parade is a seven-year-old that hasn’t won since October 2021 and last raced for the astute Mark Newnham on April 22. Yet on the strength of the Pride factor and barrier trial efforts, Big Parade was $2.90 yesterday. Argentia was with the esteemed Anthony and Sam Freedman and is seeking a late racing send-off before heading to the stud.
The Missile gained velocity when Ingratiating was scratched by Godolphin from today’s Aurie’s Star at Flemington to take on the Rosehill assignment despite the stable also being represented in the feature by Golden Mile, which is classy but was hopelessly out of touch last campaign.
Perhaps Ingratiating will be suited by what looks a strong tempo. Big Parade likes to go fast and hard but rival Wewillrock should provide pressure, as will I Am Me, which also impressed in barrier trials.
Pride has taken Argentia, which like Big Parade is resuming, more quietly but Dragonstone – successful for Newnham previously – is hard fit from recent racing. The 1200m is a query but the five-year-old will get back and come late, as will Ingratiating with the assistance of Zac Lloyd, fresh from a winning double at Randwick on Wednesday (plus a suspension).
Lloyd was last season’s leading Sydney apprentice with 76 successes, four ahead of Dylan Gibbons in what was a vintage season.
Alas John Duggan, 78, a good bloke and a highly talented jockey who won the Sydney apprentices title twice, died recently. Duggan, who won Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, beat Peter Cook in 1971-72 title race with 44 winners. Like Buddy, Cook once seen was never forgotten. What are the odds about Lloyd and Gibbons taking as many group 1s as them?
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.