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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Joe Pride credits the Queensland sunshine and the recent run of dry tracks for the sparkling form Lekvarte has shown in the past months and hopes she can take a class rise in her stride and complete a hat-trick at Randwick on Saturday.

Joe Pride (Pic: Steve Hart)

Pride once again has the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) in mind for the grey, as he did a year ago following a win at the corresponding meeting, but believes in her current form she’s very well set up to have her chance at a black type win.

Before she gets to Gosford on December 28, Lekvarte takes on the boys in the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1600m) where she’ll drop 9.5kg on her second-up win in a fillies and mares event over 1400m.

“The main aim is Gosford but if we can pick up another one along the way we’ll do it,'' Pride said.

“She had a nice spell in Brisbane in the winter, which she hadn’t had for a while, and I think that’s been probably the catalyst to this form she’s showing at the moment.

“It’s a massive drop to 52kg, you don’t drop too much more than that in one run.”

Lekvarte, $8 with TAB on Thursday, is one of three horses Pride saddles up in the race and he says stablemate King Of The Castle will provide a good measuring stick for the mare, while Christmas Cup winner Stockman is ticking over for the Summer Cup on Boxing Day.

King Of The Castle has won two of his last three starts at the mile and ran fourth in the Big Dance.

“She’s got to go against the boys but when they’re winning like she is against the fillies and mares they generally can bring that form across,’’ Pride said.

“He’s performed well in the Big Dance, he ran a great race in that, he’s a 92 benchmark horse and if she can take care of him she’s going along pretty well.

“She doesn’t know how to run a bad race at the moment, she’s got another dry track which she likes and she will run well.”

After notching a heavy track win at Kembla last month, King Of The Castle stepped up to 2000m and ran third in the ATC Cup at Randwick last week. That run proved to Pride he’s just out of his comfort zone at the middle distance.

“I don’t think he was as effective in the runs I’ve given him over 1800m and 2000m as he is when I run him at a mile,’’ he said.

“I think a mile is the sweet spot for him and he’ll have one more run before we give him a let up.”

One of the more interesting runners from the Pride yard is new recruit Excelladus who makes his stable debut in the Petaluma Handicap (1200m).

The five-year-old has won three of his four first-up attempts, including last preparation, and he’s told Pride in his two trials that he’s ready to run another big race fresh.

“I’ve been really happy with him. He’s by one of my favourite stallions, So You Think, and he’s a lovely big horse,’’ he said.

“The best of him from what I can work out is when he gets his toe in the ground but Randwick is usually softer than Rosehill. I liked his trial the other day, he’s trialled up nicely.

Lekvarte wins at Rosehill on December 2

“I don’t mind the nice draw, he doesn’t need to be dragged back and he can sit up midfield and I would think he will be very good to the line.”

Meanwhile, TAB Everest winner Think About It returns to Pride’s Warwick Farm stable on Monday to begin his autumn preparation which is likely to be centred on the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Dual Everest placegetter Private Eye is already back in work while Hunter winner Coal Crusher and Argentia are both due back next week.

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