An unraced juvenile and a 10-year-old veteran will ensure trainer Joe Pride experiences the full breadth of the racing continuum at Randwick.
Not known for pushing two-year-olds early, Pride finds himself in the unexpected position of saddling up Absolute Control in the Kirkham Plate just a month into the new juvenile season.
“I’ve obviously surprised a few people by taking a baby to the races this early but he’s stood up to a preparation,” Pride said.
“The concentration at my stable is generally on letting horses mature and I’m proud of that. But I’ve got one here that can get up and running.
“It’s also nice to be able to put one out there so if people have a horse they think can get up and running early they don’t just dismiss you from the equation of training it for them.”
Absolute Control is by Medaglia D’Oro out of Gamble Me, who was a winner at two, and is bred and owned by Gooree Stud.
Pride says the colt has a laid-back attitude and has taken his first preparation in his stride.
“In his trials, he only does what you ask him to do but I think he’s still got a bit left to come which is encouraging,” he said.
At the other end of the spectrum is Destiny’s Kiss who will line up for his 90 th start in the Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup over his pet distance of 2400m.
Pride is keen on his chances of going back-to-back given he gets his favoured rain-affected conditions.
He is one of two Pride-trained runners in the staying feature along with the lightly raced Cosmologist who has won three of his four starts since transferring from a country yard and Pride can also make a case for him.
“I love Cosmologist. He’s a nice horse on the way up and another one who really likes the wet tracks,” he said.
“You never know until you take them to 2400 metres but gee, he gives me every indication he’ll lap up the mile-and-a-half, particularly being out of a Galileo mare.”
The trio form part of a strong team for Pride at Randwick where his other runners include Pecans in the Nivison and Fifteen Rounds in the Brian Crowley Stakes.