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By Ray Hickson

Joe Pride is a believer in the theory that not all heavy tracks are equal, especially when it comes to Randwick and Rosehill, and he’s hoping Superium’s liking for headquarters is a sign he’ll cope with testing ground there on Saturday.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Superium is on the back up in the TAB Handicap (1200m) after running third behind Adelong on a Rosehill heavy 8 last week but he’s yet to race on a Randwick heavy.

The three-year-old has finished in the top three in three of his five Randwick starts, including losing the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes on protest, and Pride would like to think that counts for something.

“He likes Randwick, heavy track aside his record at Rosehill is nowhere near as good as his record at Randwick so I’d be hoping that will play a factor in what we see from him,’’ Pride said.

“You have to factor in that some horses don’t like either Randwick or Rosehill and I’ve had plenty of horses over the years that like one or the other.

“The best ones to compare are the ones that like a wet track, it’s normally Randwick I find they don’t go on.”

Pride said there has been merit in both of Superium’s efforts at Rosehill this time in – he clocked the fastest last 600m of the day (34.22, Punter's Intelligence) in his first-up fourth behind Adelong and again made ground last Saturday when staying at 1100m.

“I thought the first run was excellent, I thought James (McDonald) had nothing to take him into the race and he had to make a long sustained run with a big weight and he peaked on his run,’’ Pride said.

“He’s certainly not hopeless in the ground. The other day he’s chased a very good mare and it was a creditable performance.

“On the back up it gives him his best chance, being fit, to handle the wet track.’’

As winnable as Pride sees this race is for Superium, who was $3.40 favourite with TAB on Friday, he recognises the race is likely to be run at a decent gallop with Oakfield Twilight expected to lead.

So this is how he’d like the contest to unfold to give the gelding his chance.

“It’d be hard to imagine Damien Lane’s horse isn’t going to rip along like he’s done in the past,’’ he said.

“We just need one or two to chase and take us up into the race and then be coming off their backs about the 250m.’’

Stablemate Threeood may not have one of Pride’s favourite names but she’s fast becoming a favourite for her consistency and he sees no reason why she can’t make it four wins for the preparation in the Heineken 3 Handicap (1200m).

Superium runs third at Rosehill on June 13

The mare came to Pride as a maiden and in her second preparation for him has exploded through the grades to be a last start city winner at Warwick Farm on June 8 and is $3.70 favourite with TAB to go back-to-back.

“I’ve looked it up and I can not find any resemblance of those letters being put together to make any sense,’’ Pride said.

“She’s super honest and super reliable. Things set up pretty well for her, I’m not too worried about coming back in distance and the wet track will take care of that.

“Once again she finds herself in the right sort of race and I’m confident she’ll handle whatever is thrown at her.’’

Importantly, Threeood has proven herself a versatile wet tracker with second placings at Randwick and Rosehill prior to her Warwick Farm win.

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