Pride: Lekvarte deserves her G1 chance

[Wandering Eyes]

Joe Pride says there’s something special about winning at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Week.

And that’s why Derby Day in 2010 was a memorable day for the Sydney-based trainer when wet-track specialist Sacred Choice ploughed through the rain-sodden conditions to win the Group 1 Myer Classic, now known as the Empire Rose Stakes.

“It was a crack field of mares,” Pride recalled.

“I got on a plane thinking she was an outside chance of running a place. I got off the plane and got to Flemington, it started raining and I thought, ‘This could be our day’.

“And she won easily.

“She won by three or four lengths and she beat Typhoon Tracy and Hot Danish.

“She beat a gun field of mares, obviously very aided by a really wet track. But that was her moment.

“Corey (Brown) was on her and she won a Doncaster after that as well on a very Heavy track.

“But it was a great day, because there’s something special about winning races at Flemington over the Cup Carnival. There really is.”

Sacred Choice ran second the following year, while Pride got another Cup Week G1 win in 2014 when brilliant sprinter Terravista beat a star-studded field in the Darley Classic, now known as the Champions Sprint.

Fourteen years after Sacred Choice’s win, Pride is hoping Lekvarte(NZ) (Reliable Man) can step up in this year’s edition of the Empire Rose Stakes on Saturday.

Pride plans to run the six-year-old mare in the 1600-metre feature for fillies and mares off the back of her last-start victory at Randwick in the Angst Stakes.

It was her third G3 win in the past year.

“And it’s not a coincidence all three have been at a mile,” Pride says.

“That’s her distance.”

Lekvarte was unplaced in this year’s Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) in her only G1 start to date and Pride says the mare has to step up if she’s to be successful on Saturday, but he believes she has earned her chance.

“It is a step up, but I feel like she’s never been better and it’s definitely worth a go,” he said.

“She’s a very honest mare and she never runs a bad race.

“I’ve taken her to Queensland a few times and she hasn’t enjoyed that, but I think Flemington would suit her and she’s a true miler.

“I think it’s worth giving her a shot at a Group 1.”

Josh Parr retains the ride on Lekvarte after winning the Angst Stakes on the mare on October 19.

“It was a really strong win,” Pride said.

“She sprinted from the back, which was hard to do on the day and the other mare I had in the race, Sounds Of Heaven, came out and won on Saturday. I think it was a relatively strong race, but she does have to step up to Group 1 company.”

Pride also has Dashing Legend set for Saturday’s G3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) and expects she can run a good race fresh, while the trainer revealed Private Eye or Mazu could be a chance to line up in the G1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday week.

“I might take Private Eye or Mazu down for the Sprint,” Pride said on Monday.

“I’m going to nominate those two plus Coal Crusher for the Russell Balding Stakes (at Rosehill) this week and I’ll work out what I’m doing with them.”

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