Racing
Pride trio chasing Group 1 double at Royal Randwick
Attica has had the right preparation, Headley Grange will run a massive race, and Mazu is absolutely flying.
This was how trainer Joe Pride summed up his Group 1 chances on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
But the master Warwick Farm trainer is optimistic about his three big-race chances for the Easter Saturday meeting with Attica and Headley Grange clashing in the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Attica and Headley Grange are on the fourth line of Doncaster betting at $15 behind a trio of three-year-olds, brilliant filly Sheza Alibi ($2 favourite) and Chris Waller's duo Autumn Boy ($6) and Sixties ($13).
Godolphin three-year-old Attica goes into the Doncaster after finishing third to Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy in the Randwick Guineas before his last start eighth behind super mare Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes.
Attica was beaten just over five lengths in the Ryder but drops 6kg to just 50kg for the Doncaster, and the colt is drawn to get all the favours from barrier three.
"He clashes with those other two three-year-olds from the Randwick Guineas but I don't think he was at his best that day and still ran third.
"He was a bit 'bully' before the race and got pretty wound up, then he made his run along the inside which I'm not sure was the place to be.''
Pride described Attica's Ryder run in the Ryder as "satisfactory" as the colt was also caught on the inside which was a disadvantage.
Attica was doing his best work on the line and significantly he will enjoy that huge weight drop in the Doncaster.
Although Attica has drawn an inside barrier, Pride is keen for jockey Andrew Adkins to get the three-year-old out wide to make his finishing run.
"I want him to get some galloping room because his good wins have been in high pressure races when he has made his run down the outside,'' Pride said.
"He will enjoy a good solid tempo which you generally get in the Doncaster then he needs to get out wider to make his run.
"His best wins like the Spring Champion Stakes have come when he has run on down the outside and we will be trying to replicate that on Saturday.''
Headley Grange, named after a recording studio made famous by bands like Led Zeppelin and Genesis in the 1970s, was one of the most improved racehorses in training last year, winning seven of his 11 starts.
He earned more than $1.5 million prizemoney from feature wins in the Listed Civic Stakes, Group 3 Cameron Handicap and Alan Brown Stakes.
Headley Grange's seven wins in a calendar year is the most by a Pride-trained horse with the notable exception of Think About It who won nine races in succession during 2023 culminating with The Everest.
Ryder said Headley Grange has continued to thrive since running on strongly for fifth in the Ryder, beaten less than four lengths. The gelding drops 4.5kg to 54.5kg for the Doncaster.
"Headley Grange is very honest and very reliable,'' Pride said.
"Of the older horses in the Doncaster he is going as well as any of them and his Ryder run was good.
"The three-year-olds are the interesting ones, they are at the top of the market and will be hard to beat.
"But Headley Grange has the right barrier (seven) and also has the right preparation. He will run a massive race, I'm sure.''
Pride is chasing a third Doncaster win after successes with Sacred Choice (2011) and Vision And Power (2008).
Mazu, winner of more than $10.7 million prizemoney, lines up in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
In fact, Mazu has been narrowly beaten into third placing in both the Challenge Stakes and The Galaxy after leading for a long way in both feature sprints.
"Mazu has been so good this preparation, he is absolutely flying,'' Pride enthused.
"Usually he goes to the Hall Mark Stakes but his lead-up runs have been better this year and sort of demanded he gets his chance in the TJ Smith.
"I'd like some rain, that will help him, but he's a very reliable horse and will run his usual honest, competitive race.''
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