Apprentice Zac Wadick grateful for stakes chance aboard Joe Pride galloper Testator Silens in Winter Challenge

Apprentice Zac Wadick is determined to repay the faith shown in him by trainer Joe Pride when he rides in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill on Saturday.

Zac Wadick will chase his maiden stakes winner in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Bradley Photos

A vote of confidence from The Everest-winning trainer Joe Pride has apprentice Zac Wadick determined to deliver his biggest ever win at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

Pride has put the faith in Wadick, 21, to take the reigns aboard lightweight chance Testator Silens in the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m).

Wadick, based at Hawkesbury with Brad Widdup, is yet to ride a Sydney Saturday winner and is only having his third stakes ride in the final NSW feature race of the 2023/24 season.

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Testator Silens is among the leading contenders as a $7.50 chance in the Winter Challenge.

“To be in a stakes race with no claim, I am very grateful to get the opportunity,” Wadick said.

“The horse has no weight with 53kg but I am still honoured to pick up the ride for Joe, who is a great trainer and has been giving me great support.

“He gave me support when I first started off but he has given me some more when I’ve just started poking my head into town.

“He is one of the top trainers in Sydney and it gives me a lot of confidence that he has put the faith in me to do the job.”

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Testator Silens is one of two horses on the seven-day back-up in the Winter Challenge along with favourite War Eternal ($3).

The son of Star Witness raced without luck behind War Eternal last Saturday before working home strongly to finish fifth.

“I think he was quite unlucky last start and he has proven to be very competitive in a good grade of horses,” Wadick said.

“He has had a bad go of it last start but before that he was just running into one better.

“He has drawn a good gate on the weekend, he has no weight on his back and if he can get the right run, I dare say he will be in the finish.”

Zac Wadick has been entrusted with the ride on Testator Silens in the Winter Challenge on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Wadick has been booked for rides for some of Sydney’s biggest yards including a pair of steers for Annabel Neasham as well as one for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

He currently sits on three career metropolitan winners, all of which have at Canterbury at midweek meetings, but is hoping to make the most of his recent support.

“I haven’t been able to capitalise of yet but credit to the trainers that keep putting me on,” Wadick said.

“We are not getting the winners but we are getting good results without winning.

“I am grateful that they keep supporting me the way they have.

“I’ve been in town regularly the past three weeks or so now and each week I’ve had seven rides or more.

“Obviously it’s a great time of year with all the benchmark races but it’s no joke town and I am just glad to be able to poke the nose in and compete.”

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Neasham will use Wadick’s valuable claim with rides on Mickey’s Medal ($13) in the James Squire Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) and Military Expert ($23) in the TAB Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300m).

Wadick has been aboard Mickey’s Medal when the son of Brave Smash has finished second at his past three starts at Canterbury, Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm.

“I’ve had three rides on Mickey’s Medal for three seconds in a row,” Wadick said.

“I am desperate to get him over the line and if he could do it with on the weekend that would be great because that would mean he wins the most money as he has over the past few races.

“It’d be nice to notch that win in town.”

Military Expert was slugged with 62kg but Wadick’s claim will see the gelding get in with a more manageable 59kg.

“Military Expert has the weight he has got because he is a good horse,” Wadick said.

“Coming back in grade with the weight he has got off his back, he’s right in it.”

Wadick kicks off his day on Everylittle Breeze ($23) in the TAB Highway Class 2 Handicap (1100m) with additional rides on Ceasefire ($26) in the Midway Handicap (1300m) and Our Bellagio Miss ($16) in the ATC Members Peter Simpson Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).

Originally published as Apprentice Zac Wadick grateful for stakes chance aboard Joe Pride galloper Testator Silens in Winter Challenge