Trainer Joe Pride now looking towards the Group 1 Empire Rose for classy mare Lekvarte after her last-to-first Randwick victory

A barnstorming win from last by Lekvarte to claim the Group 3 Angst Stakes at Randwick has encouraged trainer Joe Pride to turn his attention to a Melbourne Group 1 with the mare.

Lekvarte has earned herself a shot at Group 1 glory after unleashing a powerful finish to beat a quality field of mares at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Joe Pride is considering switching Lekvarte to Melbourne after she overcame a moderate early race tempo to finish powerfully and win the Group 3 $250,000 Angst Stakes (1600m).

“There’s a fair few things to consider but I like the idea of running her in the Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day,” Pride said.

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“The race is only a couple of weeks away but it is a Group 1 for mares – I won it with Sacred Choice (2010) - I’d probably like to give her a go at that, to be fair.

“Whether or not she’s quite at that level, I’m not sure, but it’s a good chance she’ll be at Flemington.

“Randwick, being similar to Flemington, if you could make that comparison, I think that would suit her for a Melbourne track. But I’m very happy with that today, she has gone terrific.”

Lekvarte ($9) came from last on the turn but finished strongly under Josh Parr to beat Quickster ($8) by a neck with Hinged ($3.50) nearly a length away third.

Pride described Lekvarte as a “lovely mare” who has improved with age and experience.

“It has taken her a little while to get to Stakes grade but as an older mare the way she’s racing now you’d love to think there’s another season in her,” Pride said.

“She’s a really easy horse to deal with, quite aggressive but she’s a dream to train.”

Pride admitted the slow early race tempo was a concern but he knew Lekvarte had superior acceleration.

“When you’ve got a turn of foot, if they’re not going fast it can be to your advantage as well,” he said.

Lekvarte speeds away to take out the G3 Angst Stakes for @PrideRacing and Josh Parr! 💨@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/95hsw6XZmd

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“She loves the Randwick mile and that was a terrific win for her CV again today.”

Parr was also concerned about the early race tempo but was confident Lekvarte was travelling well enough to be in the finish.

“Obviously we didn’t have any speed earlier. I sort of planned to have three, maybe four behind me in the run, but it didn’t work out,” Parr said.

“But she was there for me at the finish, she found a way. She’s electric, isn’t she, when she can get clear air like that.

“She was held up slightly and then really let rip, so it was beautiful today.

“I was really keen on her given how she went first-up and the progression she made, but just seeing her here in the yard, she’s had a really strong blow there so she’s still on the improve.”

Jamie Kah, rider of Quickster, described the mare’s run as very good but suggested she is probably looking for further now.

Hinged was backed into favouritism to snap a winless streak that stretches back to February, 2022, but was inconvenienced by the slow early tempo although she was doing her best work on the line to come from near last and grab third placing.

“She didn’t have much early speed so we just rode her quietly and got her rolling before the turn,” said Blake Shinn, rider of Hinged. “She was one-paced but it was a good honest effort.”

Originally published as Trainer Joe Pride now looking towards the Group 1 Empire Rose for classy mare Lekvarte after her last-to-first Randwick victory