Pride a bit prejudiced on form of Terravista
THE big after-dark champions will be out in force in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tonight.
And the trainer with two runners in the field, Sydney’s Joe Pride, believes big sprint races are creating more interest than some of the feature distance events.
Pride will saddle up champion sprinter Terravista, as well as the gelding’s older halfbrother Tiger Tees.
Terravista, a last-start winner of the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, finished fifth in last year’s Manikato Stakes, less than half a length from the winner Lankan Rupee in a roughly run race with a blanket finish.
Runner-up Angelic Light and third-placed Famous Seamus protested against the winner, ridden by Craig Newitt.
The appeal was dismissed, although stewards found Terravista was crowded for room and another of tonight’s runners, Queensland star Buffering, was severely handicapped.
With the Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua the favourite in tonight’s race, Pride is hoping for a clearer passage for both of his runners, who arrived in Melbourne yesterday.
“It’s an exciting race and I reckon everyone is looking forward to it,” he said.
“I think people are starting to enjoy these races more than the feature staying races now, because they know all the players, the form is really exposed.
“There are some really good sprinters around at the moment and they know them well and are familiar with them because they all have their favourites.”
Pride said eight-year-old Tiger Tees, who is out of the same dam – Parfore – as Terravista, was in good order.
While he said the gelding’s 13 wins were probably the most of any horse he’d trained, Terravista was obviously the superior sprinter.
Terravista, who has won 10 of his 17 races, will be aimed for the Darley Classic next month.