Jay Ford confident Accredited can overcome change of plans in Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes

Accredited was meant to line up seven days ago but jockey Jay Ford believes it won’t hinder his winning chances on Saturday.

Jockey Jay Ford is confident Accredited can overcome a late change of plans and continue his winning streak in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Accredited was the short-priced early favourite for last Saturday’s Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) before the race was consigned to the scrap heap due to a lack of acceptors.

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Trainer Joseph Pride has referred to the change as “Plan E” for his progressive sprinter, which has won his past three starts at Warwick Farm and Randwick (twice).

The last of those victories was over 1400m – the same distance as the Carrington Stakes – however Accredited will be forced to drop back in trip a week later in his first crack in stakes grade.

“I think it should be OK,” Ford said.

“Going into it he’s going near a month between runs back to 1200m so he is going to be fresh enough you would imagine going back to 1200m.

“It’s obviously not the original path they were going to go with and this is Plan B to an extent to step him up and test him at stakes level but it looks a nice race for him.”

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Accredited finds to win the last at Randwick today for @PrideRacing and @SchofieldChad 👏@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/rwgxLO1Kc7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

Ford last rode Accredited under race conditions when he finished third at Gosford in July, 2023 but did pilot the gelding in his first trial this prep back in October.

The son of All Too Hard has continued on an upward trajectory throughout this preparation and now boasts an excellent winning record of six victories in 13 starts.

“He is a typical one of Joe and Proven’s that has been placed well throughout and taken through the grades steadily,” Ford said.

“He just keeps raising the bar and improving every time he steps out.

“I think he looks a really good ride in that race and I am definitely looking forward to it.”

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Pride is aiming to win his second Southern Cross Stakes after first winning the race with Terravista in 2014 .

Accredited is the $2.90 favourite to salute and make it four wins in a row.

He will take a competitive and even bunch of sprinters in the feature with the likes of Willaidow ($4.20), Disneck ($5.50), Hard To Say ($6.50) and Brudenell ($9) among his rivals.

Disneck is also chasing four consecutive victories after putting together a hat-trick of wins over the Randwick 1200m in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Ford will link up with another stakes quality galloper later on the card when he pilots the Chris Waller-trained Matusalem ($81) in the TAB Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m).

Matusalem returns in the final event on the card. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Matusalem was tested in a Group 1 The Metropolitan to finish his spring campaign, running eleventh, and will get better as he gets out in trip but has performed well fresh in the past.

“Matusalem has run well fresh before,” Ford said.

“He is resuming and has drawn wide at a distance short of his best so he will be ridden quietly I would imagine but he is the sort of horse, he has a bit of class on his side.

“He found himself in a Group 1 at the end of last prep so I wouldn’t put it past him to run well.

“The stable obviously have a bit of time for him and he went through the grades quite quickly last prep, albeit over a journey, but horses like that with a bit of class can perform well fresh.”

Ford believes Brad Widdup’s Art’s Alive should get her chance to run a big race at $34 in the Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 72 (1200m).

Art’s Alive has a low draw and no weight on her back.

“Art’s Alive gets her chance from a good gate with a light weight,” Ford said.

“With that 52.5kg and the right run behind the speed, she could pop up.”

Ford starts his day on Don’tcha Think ($21) in the TAB Highway Class 3 Plate (1500m) while also doing the steering on the Kerry Parker-trained Herb ($17) in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1350m).

Originally published as Jay Ford confident Accredited can overcome change of plans in Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes