Warwick Farm preview: Trainer Joe Pride has his artillery ready to fire for a big day at his home track

Ideal barrier draws for his capable quartet has trainer Joe Pride well placed for a big day on his home track.

Storm The Ramparts (centre) looks hard to beat on his home track of Warwick Farm. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Joe Pride saddles up a quality team of four on his home track and ideal barrier draws puts his quartet at a definite advantage.

Three of Pride’s runners have drawn pole position while the other has come up with barrier 2.

“I’ve had a bad run of barriers lately so it’s nice to get some good draws,” said Pride.

“It’s a good advantage on our home track, we usually go well there, and it’s a strong team we are taking to the races.”

Leading the charge is the ultra-consistent Storm The Ramparts who is looking to bounce back from his first-up fourth at Randwick on Boxing Day when he steps out in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m) from barrier 1.

“It was handy run but it wasn’t one of Jason’s (Collett) greatest rides,” Pride said.

The @PrideRacing-trained Storm The Ramparts gives Rory Hutchings a double at Warwick farm. pic.twitter.com/qlhUEyOsbp

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 20, 2023

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“He jumped well and he didn’t take advantage of that and ended up getting posted wide on a day you wanted to be up (on the speed) and in (near the rail).”

It was just the second time in 10 starts that the gelding has missed a place.

“He is a very honest and consistent horse. He is an easy horse to work with,” he said.

“The inside draw this week helps him a great deal and I think he should be very hard to beat.”

The Replicant has won just three of his 32 starts but he has filled the minor placings 19 times.

Barrier 1 in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) is a huge plus for the six-year-old in his bid to break through.

“The draw is a massive bonus for him. He really needs good draws and he’s got that,” said Pride.

“He doesn’t win often enough but he is always thereabouts and I think he is a really good chance.”

The son of Tivici was a handy third to Spirit Of Varanasi when resuming on the Kensington in early December before getting back and finishing seventh to Noble Conqueror at Randwick on Boxing Day.

“He didn’t have much luck the other day. He’s normally top three horse the majority of his starts,” Pride said.

“He gets the blinkers back on this week and if we get the rain that is predicted, that will benefit him as he is very good on the wet.”

Spirit Of Varanasi takes the TAB Handicap for @keaganlatham and Robert & Luke Price!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/u4sAKVtkPo

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 6, 2024

New Zealand-bred four-year-old Believe In Angels was good in finishing second behind Sunday Tycoon at his race debut at Wyong after being tightened for room in the straight and is a leading chance from barrier 1 in the Maiden Plate (1200m).

“I only had him for a short time. He only arrived a couple of weeks before I trialled him at Canterbury,” he said.

“He was trained over in New Zealand. Keith Hawtin, who is a trainer in New Zealand, thought he was a horse for Australia and sent him to me.

“He went well at Wyong and I was very happy with him. He just had no luck.

“He has a good draw here this week which he should be able to utilize and I think he will be hard to beat.”

Pride was a little disappointed with Happy Saturday at Warwick Farm last start after winning well at Wyong a week earlier and hopes a fresher version of the gelding can bounce back in the Benchmark 72 (1600m).

“He was pretty plain last start. I think I may have got him back to the races too quickly after his Wyong win,” he said.

“He has now had a few weeks between runs so back on that fresh side, hopefully he can recapture what he did at Wyong.”

ALICE MAE OUT TO END HER CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH

Interference at a vital stage in the straight put an end to the chances of Alice Mae at Randwick last start but trainer Angela Davies was more than happy with way she reacted to find the line and feels she can make amends when she heads to Warwick Farm.

Stepping up from a Newcastle win that completed a hat-trick, Alice Mae stepped up to a Midway Handicap at Randwick and was just starting to work in to the race when inconvenienced near the 200m and lost her position and momentum.

She picked herself up, and came again in the last 100m to finish fourth behind race favourite Emmadella.

“The horse on her inside just came out a bit in the straight and hampered her. She then had the hide to come back again,” said Davies.

🥇Winner for #Kermadec

Alice Mae (#Kermadec) flew up the straight and held on at the last to win race 1 over 1,500m at Newcastle.

🔹 Standing at Northwood Park, Vic, $16,500 inc GST https://t.co/TT88SYXQdUpic.twitter.com/VeAZqCoBzz

— Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) October 5, 2024

“She was probably entitled to leave it alone but she still wanted to try and chase them down and made up some ground again.

“She is only a tiny thing but she is just so gutsy and tries hard in her races.”

The daughter of Kermadec started her campaign back in August with two placings before breaking her maiden over 1500m at Newcastle and ever since, Davies has a plan to step her up to a mile.

That opportunity finally arrives this week in the Best Of Bordeaux @ Coolmore Benchmark 72 Handicap where she has drawn ideally in barrier 2 with apprentice Anna Roper aboard.

“She won her maiden over the 1500 metres and this preparation we were always going to give her a try over the mile,” Davies said.

“I think she will handle it if she is ridden right and being by Kermadec, you think she should run it out.

“Barrier two is perfect for her. She can just jump and settle where she is happy and relaxed. She won’t need to find a position.

“Also, Anna’s claim can make a big difference to her. Being a small mare, carrying 59 kilos would have made it very difficult but dropping down to 56 kilos will really help.”

Davies is hoping the forecast rain arrives while will play into the hands of the four-year-old mare.

“She likes it wet and if we get a little bit of rain there, it certainly won’t hurt her chances,” she said.

Meanwhile, Davies reported that stable star Our Kobison has been spelled after his last behind Iowna Merc in the Listed Canterbury Sprint on New Year’s Day.