When it comes to shopping – be it for clothes or horses – Joe Pride knows what he likes.
And when he set eyes on Paper Daisy at last year’s Inglis Classic sale, the Press Statement filly immediately captured his attention.
“I’m pretty instant when it comes to horses,” Pride said.
“It’s a bit like looking at t-shirts for me. I just know what I like and don’t like and I liked her when I saw her.”
In partnership with Laurel Oak Bloodstock, Pride paid $145,000 for Paper Daisy, who will line up in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
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The youngster made the perfect start to her career with a victory at Kembla Grange where she trailed the speed and quickly put paid to her rivals to score with something in hand.
Pride is renowned for his slow and steady approach with two-year-olds so for one to get to a feature race this early in the season is significant.
“Mine only get there at two if they are really standing out and are advanced in their learning, and she was one of those,” Pride said.
“She’s got here with relative ease. It’s exciting. It’s a $2 million race and I don’t take that for granted.
“It’s not easy to have horses running for that kind of prize money, especially so early in their career.”
Paper Daisy was a $23 chance in TAB fixed odds markets on Wednesday with Victorian colt Profiteer dominating betting as a $1.80 favourite.
The filly won her debut on a good track but Pride said she got through soft ground comfortably in two trials and he had no qualms about the prospect of a rain-affected surface.
From barrier four, she is drawn to get a cosy run behind the leaders and Pride will head to Randwick with a degree of confidence.
“I’m going there confident, not necessarily that I’m going to win, but that she’s going to do us all proud and that’s what we’re there for,” Pride said.
Pride confirmed Derbari was on target to back up in The Agency Real Estate Mile (1600m) after being edged out by Shaik at Rosehill on Saturday.
He expects the four-year-old to relish the extra 200 metres, particularly if there is a solid tempo.
“He just wants a bit more speed in his races so he can be ridden a touch quieter,” Pride said.
“Hopefully that will happen on Saturday with the bigger field.”