Joe Pride feels consistent gelding has conditions in his favour in return clash with last start conqueror

Consistent gelding Taksu will appreciate a weight pull and a short distance as he looks for redemption over his last start victor.

Trainer Joe Pride has Taksu primed to exact immediate revenge over last start conqueror O’President in their return clash for The Agency Handicap (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

O’President worried Taksu out of the contest at the end of 1400m at Newcastle last start but has to concede his rival 2kg for the Randwick sprint.

Pride believes the weight pull Taksu enjoys, the slightly shorter race distance and heavy track all work in his gelding’s favour.

Trainer Joe Pride feels Taksu is well suited in Saturday’s race at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s a nice horse, very honest, and this is the right race for him,” Pride said.

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have little between the two sprinters with O’President at $3.60 favouritism just ahead of Taksu at $3.80.

Pride’s other Randwick runners are Mariamia ($8.50) in the Furphy Handicap (1100m) and Kaapfever ($13) in the Precise Air Handicap (1800m),

Mariamia is a former Melbourne sprinter who was narrowly beaten into third place behind Probabeel in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield earlier this year while Kaapfever is coming of his game sixth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup won by Knights Order two weeks ago.

“We’ve only had Mariamia in our stable for about five weeks but she is a lovely mare and I would say she is there to run really well,” Pride said.

“Kaapfever is a tough horse, he ran a really good race in the Sydney Cup and we will give him his chance in those winter staying cup races in the next few weeks.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1100m: 4,5,7,3

1200m: 6,7,1,2

1300m: 1,2,4,5

1400m: 2,1,5,6

1600m: 4,3,2,6

1800m: 1,2,4,5

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1,:Command Approved $6-$5, Captain Bond $15-$12, Veravino $51-$26

Race 2: Mosht Up $8-$6.50

Race 3: Mr Hussill $6 unchanged with a $400 bet at $6

Race 4: Aleas $2.30-$2.25, Gone Bye $8-$6.50

Race 5: Zarastro $6-$4.60

Race 6: Quintello $2.80-$2.15-$2.10 with bets of $1,177 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.50, $1,500 at $2.30, $869 at $2.15, $500 at $2.15

Race 7: Andermatt $1.85-$1.90-$1.60 after a bet of $500 at $1.85, Dragonstone $15-$8

Race 8: Diamil $2.80-$2.30-$2.40 after bets of $1,500 at $2.80 twice, $1,000 at $2.60, $2,150 at $2.50, $10,000 at $2.40, La Chevalee $8-$6.50-$4-$4.40 with a wager of $150 at $650

Race 9: O’President $5-$3.70, Taksu $5-$4-$3.80 with a $400 bet at $4

Race 10: Nikau Spur $8-$6-$5.50, Toretto $26-$15

Dragonstone has come in for good support in race 7. Picture: Grant Guy

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 1,6,7,15

Race 4: 1,4,6,7

Race 5: 2,8,10

Race 6: 2,3,11

QUADDIE

Race 7: 2,10

Race 8: 3,10

Race 9: 2,4,6,7

Race 10: 2,10,12,13

PRICE CHECK

Diamil (race 8) has been confidently backed from $2.80-$2.30-$2.40 after bets of $1,500 at $2.80 twice, $1,000 at $2.60, $2,150 at $2.50 and a big wager of $10,000 at $2.40. Quintello (race 6) has also been heavily backed from $2.80-$2.15-$2.10 with bets of $1,177 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.50, $1,500 at $2.30, $869 at $2.15, $500 at $2.15.

TRIAL POINTERS

Sunborn (race two) is an Edward Cummings-trained mare by Casino Prince out of Honeymoon Cruise who were both trained by his father, Anthony. As for Sunborn, she showed considerable talent from the very beginning, winning at Newcastle on debut then just 13 days later she clocked in fifth to Wild Ruler in the Inglis Nursery. Fast forward to the present and Sunborn returns to Randwick in great shape evidenced by her free-striding fourth in a Warwick Farm 740m hitout on April 11.

Mr Gee (race four) is trained by John O’Shea for Neil Werrett - the same duo that can count themselves unlucky not to have a stakes-race or two with this gelding’s mother, Music Review. Mr Gee has so far managed to win five times in his 16 starts, those wins coming on Good, Soft and heavy tracks. The son of All Too Hard wasn’t beaten too far in the Canberra Cup on March 14 and has been kept up to the mark with a recent (impressive) trial at Randwick.

Mr Gee has trialled well heading into Saturday's race at Randwick. Picture: Grant Guy

SECTIONAL STARS

Czar (race one) is one of seven winners to emerge from the first crop of the current leading first season sire, Russian Revolution. In fact, Czar wears the same colours and is housed in the same complex as the Peter and Paul Snowden’s The Galaxy and Oakleigh Plate winner. As for Czar himself, he put the writing on the board for a bold bid on debut via some noteworthy trials and managed to roll a hot favourite in that 1000m Hawkesbury maiden timed in 57.57 seconds, with a last 600m in 33.88 seconds.

Mahis Angel (race 10) who wears the same colours as former Horse of the Year, Miss Andretti, was unmistakably impressive at his New South Wales debut when finishing fifth of 14 in a deep race at his new town of Tamworth behind his new stablemate, Acrophobic. Mahis Angel drew barrier 13, carried 59.5kg, and ended up being under two-lengths from the winner at the line despite being last of the big field at the top of the straight.

BEST BET

Diamil (race 8) has showed considerable talent at his two Australian starts, finishing second at Canterbury before a dominant win at Warwick Farm. He appreciated getting out to 1600m and toyed with his rivals, beating subsequent city winner Main Stage by a widening margin of more than two lengths. This former English galloper had no problems on a heavy track last start and dominated his rivals. Diamil is very promising and good enough to overcome the outside draw to win again.

VALUE BET

Czar (race 1) took a while to balance up but once he gathered momentum, he finished powerfully to score a very impressive debut win at Hawkesbury. He jumps to Sydney Saturday grade but finds himself in a race with plenty of speed and he has drawn to settle closer with the run of the race. Czar is over the odds around $11.

THE JUDGEMENT

ROYAL RANDWICK

R7: Furphy Handicap (1100m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “It’s very hard to go past the favourite Andermatt. He looked like a Group horse when winning first-up, a gelding operation since last preparation looking like it’s put his mind on the job of being a racehorse. If he’s come on just a little bit, they won’t get near him. Dragonstone was a distant second to Andermatt the other day and looks a great chance to fill that placing again, Surreal Step is now with the Brad Widdup stable, and a cheeky run first up wouldn’t be a shock.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “The scratching of It’s Me has forced Andermatt into a very short quote as she was his main danger. Looks hard to beat off his first up dominant win at Canterbury but he is yet to win at any start except when resuming and at $1.60 no value for mine. Where is the second-pick pick though? Probably Dragonstone who meets him 6kg better from Canterbury.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Favourite Andermatt into a very short price now and have to look for something around it. Landed on Mariamia who makes her debut for Joe Pride, handles all going and wasn’t asked to do much in a recent trial. Led and only ran down late by star mare Probabeel at Caulfield two starts back in Group 3 company. She is going to be very competitive here.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Andermatt long odds on now but clearly looks the one after a big return at Canterbury. Loves the conditions and maps kindly in a race where they look to run along.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Andermatt is clearly the one to beat and the price reflects that. Dragonstone could be the logical quinella play and after firming from $15.”

Verdict: Andermatt

Andermatt is a short-priced favourite to make it two from two this campaign. Picture: Grant Guy

R8: Drinkwise Mile (1600m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “On a day where I expect to see emerging types for the future, Diamil fits that mould nicely. John O’Shea is just poking through the grades with him, and the Randwick mile with James McDonald engaged looks perfect. Sindacato will only be improved by his first Australian run, while La Chevalee always improves with a couple of runs under her belt and out in distance, and that is the case here.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Diamil another shortie here from Wednesday to Saturday grade and once again at a shorter quote than when winning midweek. Excellent win at Warwick Farm and form behind very strong but unders for mine for a horse with a wide draw that probably gets back. La Chevalee returns to the scene of her best win and it was on a Heavy 8 back in July last year. Superb heavy form and can box seat from draw.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “I think La Chevalee is a great bet here each way, two runs back at 1400m now to the mile and has shown a liking for Randwick in the past. Sam Clipperton riding very well of late.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Diamil looks to have considerable upside but drawn stickily here on an unsympathetic rail. With a fair track he looks hard to beat but I would lean to La Chevalee with map advantage.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Diamil is one of the most popular horses on the Randwick card in terms of money held. La Chevalee is the only one specked to beat it.”

Verdict: Diamil

R9: The Agency Hcp (1300m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “O’President broke through for a confidence building win last start and should be right among the action again. I can’t knock Taksu and Rustic Steel and I expect Zing to be finding the line late.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Cut about by scratchings with the three favourites all coming through a similar race at Newcastle which was postponed from Rosehill. O’President returned to form winning there when ridden closer and should get company from Taksu and Surf Dancer. Hoping track plays fair with rail right out giving Rustic Steel last look at them. He did start favourite at Newcastle and closer to inside in slower going.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “The Newcastle race a month ago the clear reference and I thought Taksu was brave on that occasion leading them up at a breakneck speed. The step back to 1300m is a tick, maps nicely and is the one most suited in the conditions.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Open affair but I like O’President who looks suited to the wet tracks and found his best form last start when beating Taksu.”

Verdict: O’President

Originally published as Joe Pride feels consistent gelding has conditions in his favour in return clash with last start conqueror