Warwick Farm preview: Home track advantage to help Joe Pride claim a third Civic Stakes win

A change of venue for the rescheduled Civic Stakes to Joe Pride’s home track is a big advantage as he chases his third win in the Listed event at Warwick Farm.

Estadio Mestalla (left) is ready to peak in the Listed Civic Stakes at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainer Joe Pride feels the change in venue to his home track and the wet ground are two key factors that can see him win a third Civic Stakes.

Pride won the race two years ago with wet track specialist Taksu while his first win in the race was with Hadaaf in 2009.

The Civic Stakes was to be run at Royal Randwick last Saturday but after the meeting was abandoned, was added to the Warwick Farm meeting.

Pride saddles up two good chances in Estadio Mestalla and Excelladus in the Listed event over 1400m.

“I think both horses are suited by the change in venue,” Pride said.

“They are decent horses at Randwick but they won’t be disadvantaged by the race shifting to Warwick Farm.

Semillion leads all the way in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes giving @ZacLloydx a winning treble!@[e-mail]/o2O2BdWkbG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 11, 2024

“The majority of my horses go really well on their home track.”

Estadio Mestalla has been forced to settle further back than expected in both runs this preparation after being bumped at the start before running on to finish on the heels of the placegetters.

He came from near last at the top of the straight when fourth to Semillion in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Newcastle first-up before a fourth to Excelladus at Randwick last start.

Pride expects the gelding to take up a more prominent position this week.

“Getting bumped at the start meant he settled further back than expected which made the difference in both runs so far (this preparation),” he said.

“I would think he can take up more of a position and make his own luck as is his customary pattern.

“He is probably the better chance although with the track likely to stay in the heavy range, it does help Excelladus out.

“Estadio Mestalla would be suited on something better than heavy but he is good enough on it which he has shown making ground in both runs this time in.

“He gets in well at the weights. The favourite has 59.5 (kilos) and he gets in with 53 (kilos).”

Excelladus showed the benefit of his first two runs back from a spell when he held off a fast finishing Flying Crazy over 1300m at Randwick on June 8.

Excelladus wins a tight one at Randwick for @PrideRacing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/4jYRmv737r

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024

“He’s a lovely old horse to work with. I’ve been really happy with his runs this time in,” he said.

“It took a couple of runs for him to hit his peak and he ran really well the other day. He should improve again.

“He raced well last time in on good tracks but he is two to three lengths better when he gets on soft and heavy ground.

“He gets another one of those again this week and while he has a wide draw, he has got a bit of speed to come across and offset that.

“Hopefully he can do that relatively quickly and put himself in a position to strike.”

Race favourite Tamerlane will need to overcome history if he is to claim the Civic Stakes with 59.5kg.

Mic Mac (2013) and Ninth Legion (2016) both won with 59kg but the last horse to carry 59.5kg or more to victory was Gilt Pattern with 60kg in 1975.

Tamerlane is coming off a ninth behind Coastwatch when resuming in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone on May 18.

“Second-up from a spell, he faded first-up at Scone after racing on pace,” said trainer James Cummings.

“He has since been back to the trials where he performed well.

“He has drawn ideally in barrier 1 and strips much fitter now. He looks well-placed here and should prove hard to beat.”

PFIEFFER TURNS TO CLARK TO CONJURE UP A BREAKTHROUGH WIN

Local trainer David Pfieffer has called on Sydney’s best frontrunning jockey, Tim Clark, to help end a frustrating run of minor placings with lightly-raced gelding, Detendu.

The three-year-old placed second in each of his three starts in his first campaign earlier this year before resuming with a third to Braveheart on the Kensington on June 12 after giving away 4.5kg to the two horses in front of him.

“He’s always thereabouts. It’s a little bit frustrating to be so close but not win,” said Pfieffer.

“He races well and tries hard but just keeps finding one better.

“I think the track will improve a little bit for him, he has got a decent gate and a jockey onboard who will is going to suit a horse like him.

A double to @SnowdenRacing1 as Braveheart wins the TAB Maiden!@[e-mail]/zgqeKw5e2y

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 12, 2024

“Tim is one of the best, if not the best, frontrunning jockey in Sydney so he will really help this horse.”

In the Drinkwise Plate (1100m), Detendu meets his rivals on better terms and has the advantage of racing on his home track again.

“There is a little bit of depth to the race but at the end of the day, they are all maidens.

“Hopefully he can break through and get a bit of confidence.

“I think when he wins one, he can go on a put a few together.

“This time of year is the right time for him to win a race and keep moving forward from it.

“Hopefully we can roll off the back on the home ground advantage.”

In the final race of the day, the Maurice At Arrowfield Handicap (1100m) Pfieffer has scratched Oceans One but will run Vegas Raider despite the gelding drawing the outside gate.

The four-year-old resumed with a sixth in a Midway at Rosehill behind Everyone’s A Star on April 27 before finishing eighth to Fleetwood at Warwick Farm on May 22.

“He is going great but has just had awful barriers all prep and I have scratched him a few times because of that,” he said.

“He has drawn wide again but I am going to run him because I don’t want to get to the stage where he has had more trials than race starts.

“He won his trial here nicely last week on a heavy track so the wet track won’t worry him.

“He is in great order and can run a cheeky race.”

Originally published as Warwick Farm preview: Home track advantage to help Joe Pride claim a third Civic Stakes win