Racing
Accredited gets Stakes shot in Festival
Joe Pride-trained gelding to chase maiden Group win at Rosehill
Consistent gelding Accredited will be given the chance to register a deserved first win of the campaign in Stakes grade this Saturday.
The Joe Pride-trained six-year-old will contest the $250,000 Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
The Proven Thoroughbreds-raced galloper heads into the Festival Stakes off two second placings, including a three-quarters-of-a-length defeat at the hands of stablemate Coal Crusher in the $1 million The Hunter, and Pride is expecting another solid performance.
"Coal Crusher is a hard horse to beat at Newcastle and he did a really good job, he never gave up," Pride said.
"He will be thereabouts and the 1500 metres will suit him.
"He will start in the market as he always does. He is an honest, consistent horse and he is never far away."
Accredited, a son of All Too Hard, has raced 21 times for seven wins, eight minor placings and a tick over $700,000 in stakes.
The Hunter effort followed a second placing in the $300,000 Choisir Handicap at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day when cut down late by another stablemate, Estadio Mestalla.
He rounded out last campaign with another narrow second placing, to Robusto in the Listed Winter Challenge over the Festival Stakes course and trip.
Accredited finished third in the Listed Winter Stakes at his previous start and will be chasing a maiden Stakes success in Saturday's race.
Accredited will be Pride's only runner in the Festival Stakes, which on Monday attracted 31 nominations, including Robusto, The Kosciuszko winner Clear Thinking, Group 2 Shannon Stakes winner Waterford, emerging star Yorkshire and Queensland Oaks winner You Wahng.

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