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By Ray Hickson

Accredited, In Flight and Cosmonova are all lightly raced horses that trainer Joe Pride says are in the “transition phase” of their careers and how they perform at Randwick on Saturday could be pivotal to their future.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Proven Throroughbreds trio have built impressive winning records from limited starts and Pride hopes they can give an indication in their respective races that they’re not done going through the grades.

Both Accredited and In Flight have won five from 12 while Cosmonova has notched four wins from seven starts.

“They are nice horses to have up at this time of the year,’’ Pride said.

“You then make a decision in the next month about whether you freshen up for the autumn carnival or worry about winter with them.”

A hat-trick awaits Accredited if he can get the better of a small field, which includes stablemate Excelladus, in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).

He led all the way on his home track back on December 4 then won out in a stirring battle with the promising Yorkshire at Randwick two weeks ago.

“He’s 12 starts in now, five wins, he’s sort of at the crossroads now of whether he makes a black type horse,’’ Pride said.

“If he’s able to win and win with a bit of dominance you’d suggest he’d be in line to win a nice Listed race or Group 3 in the winter. If he can’t, well, he might be in that grade for a bit longer.”

Josh Parr has his first ride on Accredited, $1.70 with TAB on Thursday, and Pride likes the fact he’s drawn the inside in a race that could be quite tactical.

“You’d always rather an inside draw in these situations because you can dictate the speed of the race,’’ he said.

“You can make them earn it if they want to lead you or you can lead yourself.

“It was a good clash the other day. He’s always been a horse of good promise, he’s taken a little longer to get there than most being a five-year-old now. He has a pretty good profile now and what he does in his next couple of starts will tell us if he’s going to get there.”

Excelladus is a horse that Pride says has likely reached his level and he’ll be hoping for a bit of rain in January to maximise his chances of adding to his six wins from 32 starts.

The gelding pleased his trainer with a first-up fifth behind Jedibeel in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m).

“It was a very good run, he’s more of a wet track horse and it's whether that was him just sprinting well fresh and now he’ll need a wet track,’’ he said.

“He’s an honest, genuine, performer. He hasn’t made the transition into Group and Listed grade so these runs are important for him before the carnival starts that he chalk up a win or two.”

In Flight brings a second-up third behind subsequent Canterbury Sprint winner Iowna Merc into the Precise Air Handicap (1200m).

While the mare has drawn the outside barrier Pride said the race looks to set up well for her, given where the speed is drawn, and expects her to be right in the finish.

“This is the transition period for her, I feel like she will make it to that next level and if nothing else she will do it on a wet track,’’ he said.

“She’s well placed, I think she will run very well. She’ll be there in the first three or four and she will get her chance.”

Pride believes an extra, unplanned, trial under Cosmonova’s belt stands her in good stead to resume in the Inglis Class Sale 9-11 Feb Out Now Handicap (1100m).

Accredited wins at Randwick on December 21

The four-year-old was due to resume last month at Warwick Farm but was scratched at the barriers and sent back to the trials.

She showed promise with successive city wins in the late winter and Pride is quietly confident she can make the steps necessary to perform at a higher level.

“I would understand people look at her form lines and say she was a Saturday winner but it was a Benchmark 72 and she won at midweek before that,’’ he said.

“She hasn’t had the chance to prove herself any more than that. She has a good profile to go on from there and that’s what she is there to do on Saturday.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting