Stakes tests loom for summer sprint sensations Accredited and Disneck

Accredited and Disneck are commanding their opportunity at stakes level after both continued their form surge with brilliant wins at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Stakes-grade racing awaits in-form gallopers Disneck (left) and Accredited. Pictures: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Sydney’s summer sprint finds Accredited and Disneck are commanding their opportunity at stakes level after both continued their form surge with brilliant wins at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Joe Pride’s Accredited made it three city wins in succession when he romped home by four lengths at his first attempt over 1400m with the trainer now eyeing the Listed $200,000 Carrington Stakes over the same course and distance in three weeks.

Disneck also completed a hat-trick of wins, all over the Randwick 1200m course, with another exciting last-to-first burst, convincing trainer Bjorn Baker to target the Group 3 $250,000 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 1.

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Accredited pulled up well after Saturday’s easy win but Pride said the gelding liked his races spaced and the Carrington Stakes was looming as the gelding’s next start.

“It might be one run too early to go to stakes level because I like to win as many races as possible with these horses as they go through their grades but the timing is right for Accredited going to the Carrington,’’ Pride said.

“He is fit and ready to take on a lower-tier Listed level race before the really good horses return to the track.’’

A strong win for the @PrideRacing trained Accredited! 💪@JoshuaParr8pic.twitter.com/Vtbps9WvWt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

• Accredited wins again, despite Parr having ‘a bit to deal with’

Baker has a similar view with Disneck, who like Accredited, has stormed through the grades this summer with three brilliant wins in four weeks.

“We will look at what’s coming up but I’m thinking a race like the Southern Cross Stakes (Group 3, 1200m, Rosehill, February 1) for the horse,’’ Baker said.

“It’s a step up in grade again but he is going so well and deserves his chance at a higher level.’’

How good has the last 3 weeks been for Disneck! 🤩

Disneck powers home for @BBakerRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/MIBQY7mpU8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

• ‘This horse is just flying’: Disneck again thumps rivals at Randwick

Disneck’s task was made a little easier on Saturday when one of his main rivals, promising three-year-old Amazing Eagle, was a late scratching just an hour before the race.

Co-trainer Gerald Ryan said Amazing Eagle’s troublesome hoof issue meant the colt has also been ruled out of the $3 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast next Saturday.

“Amazing Eagle is still not 100 per cent this morning,’’ Ryan said. “We have to get him right.

“We thought he was ready to go on Saturday but he had to be withdrawn so that means definitely no (Magic Millions) Guineas.’’

Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, is hoping for better luck with the in-form High Blue Sea in the inaugural $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong next Saturday.

High Blue Sea wins second up and @nashhot earns a treble! @GRyanRacingpic.twitter.com/dj5o2RvD2A

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

• Rejuvenated High Blue Sea storms to victory

“We will enter High Blue Sea and see how strong the race looks, Ryan said.

“There is a race at Rosehill the following week which is suitable so we will have a good think about what is best for the horse.’’

The Lakes is likely to attract a good field with The Ingham winner Robusto and classy Osipenko expected to be among the nominations.