Trainer Joe Pride eyeing double on Wednesday at Randwick Kensington
With luck in running trainer Joe Pride holds high hopes of snaring a winning double at the Randwick Kensington meeting on Wednesday.
Horse Racing
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Trainer Joe Pride, buoyed by the impressive barrier trial of stable star Ceolwulf earlier this week, is chasing a brace of wins from in-form duo Elle Hudson and Believe In Angels at Kensington on Wednesday.
Elle Hudson goes to the midweek meeting off a powerful provincial win and looks hard to beat in the TAB Handicap (1800m).
Believe In Angels is also a last-start winner and Pride is comfortable starting the gelding from a wide barrier in the Palace Pier First Yearlings Handicap (1250m).
Pride said both New Zealand-bred gallopers are lightly raced but have the potential to continue progressing through their grades.
FIELDS AND FORM FOR RANDWICK KENSINGTON ON WEDNESDAY
“They are nice horses and they both won well at their last starts,” Pride said.
“Elle Hudson was strong through the line at Newcastle and he’s trained on well. He’s only had four starts this preparation and continues to improve.
“The barrier looks scary for Believe In Angels (15) but they are only running 10 from that start on Wednesday so I’m happy for him to go line up there.
“This is Believe In Angels’ first race preparation and he did a good job to win his maiden at Warwick Farm the other day at just his second start.’’
Elle Hudson is at $7.50 in early betting for the TAB Handicap where Sly Boots is favourite at $3.70.
Believe In Angels is at generous odds of $15 for the closer where early favourite is Imposing Pier at $2.40.
On a personal level, Pride is having a solid start to the 2024-25 season with 19 wins at a healthy strike-rate of nearly 15 per cent to be fifth in the Sydney trainers premiership.
The trainer’s lofty premiership position has been helped by Ceolwulf and Accredited, which have both won three city races this season.
Ceolwulf was outstanding during the spring carnival culminating with his Group 1 wins in the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes while Accredited has been one of the sprint finds of the summer reeling off a hat-trick of wins.
Pride said he was “extremely pleased” with Ceolwulf’s closing fifth in a trial won by Declichy Boulevard at Warwick Farm on Monday.
“The trial was just what we wanted to see from Ceolwulf, the horse is great, he is ticking over beautifully,’’ Pride said.
“We will trial him again on February 3, hopefully over 1000m on the course proper, and that leaves me about two weeks before he resumes in the Apollo Stakes (Group 2, $300,000, 1400m, Royal Randwick).’’
Pride said Ceolwulf’s constitution, as well as the gelding’s obvious natural ability, contribute to his superior racetrack performance.
“These good horses have the tools to cope with the workload better than your average racehorse,’’ Pride said.
“Even with some good horses I’ve trained, I’ve needed to manage their work but not Ceolwulf, he thrives on it.
“I said to one of the part-owners just the other day that giving Ceolwulf a barrier trial or a strong gallop is ‘fuel’ for him, like giving oxygen to a fire.
“A lot of good horses have great constitutions but this horse takes it to an extreme level.’’
Accredited’s recent form surge has demanded an opportunity at stakes level which he gets on Saturday in the Listed $200,000 Carrington Stakes (1490m) at Royal Randwick.
In early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Carrington, Accredited is the $1.90 favourite ahead of Grand Impact and Overriding at $6.
Pride said Accredited has also continued to do everything right since scoring a very easy win over the Carrington course last start.
“I thought Accredited was great the other day at 1400m,’’ the trainer said.
“But this will probably be his last run for now as I might give the horse a freshen up and then set him for a winter campaign.’’
Originally published as Trainer Joe Pride eyeing double on Wednesday at Randwick Kensington
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