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By Ray Hickson

It’s far from unusual for trainer Joe Pride to have few two-year-old runners but we’re in mid-May now and Flying Artie filly In Flight will be his first youngster to step out for 2022-23 when she debuts at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Pride averages around 25 two-year-olds a season entering his stable so naturally he’s going to be limited in opportunities to have runners in the major juvenile races – evidenced by having had just two Golden Slipper starters to date.

But his patient approach often pays dividends and in In Flight, who somewhat appropriately runs in the Proven Thoroughbreds Handicap (1100m), Pride said he believes he has a handy filly.

“I suppose we had to get (a two-year-old runner) eventually but we’re behind schedule, even by my slow standards, this year. She’s a nice filly, she’s trialled up very well,’’ he said.

“I took her away too which I think is always a guide, instead of keeping them here at home. The winner has form so I was really happy with her.

“It was probably a test for her the last 50m or so on the trying ground but she’s nice and I’d be disappointed if she didn’t run well.”

In Flight, $12 with TAB on Tuesday, showed speed to lead her latest trial at Canterbury and while the time was average she travelled as well as the winner Queen Of Dragons in the 900m gallop.

Pride said while the filly is making her debut in a midweek maiden he believes there are no easy two-year-old races regardless of the time of year.

“When I look at two-year-old nominations every week I’m not that disappointed not to be part of it,’’ he said.

“There wouldn’t be any stronger two-year-old racing in the world. Do I want to put myself in that? Not really. There are easier ways to earn a dollar.

“Before Christmas I never know what to expect from them, I don’t push them at that point, but she’s had a couple of preparations and she’s got a bit of quality.”

Mount Warning will also carry the Proven colours into the Chase The Dream Handicap (1100m) and on the back of a comfortable first-up maiden win the trainer says there’s more to come.

The three-year-old showed a glimpse of her promise in her first preparation, which concluded with a close second to Ponca, and Pride said she’s come back a better filly.

“This filly has quality, she has acceleration. There’s improvement there and in race craft, which is what I like to do with them,’’ he said.

“A couple of runs in the first prep, a break and come back. She’s strengthened.

“She’ll go through to Saturday grade no problem at all and I’d like to think in time she will make a handy filly for us.”

The Warwick Farm trainer has three runners in the Paulele @ Darley Handicap (1400m) – Silent Raindrops, Kouklara and Beirut Miss – and says each has a case.

Silent Raindrops backs up after a close second behind Plundering at Kensington last week, while Kouklara and Beirut Miss will get their preferred conditions.

“She’s racing really well, I thought her run last week was excellent,’’ Pride said of Silent Raindrops.

In Flight runs second in a Canterbury trial on May 5

“She’s a bit like Mount Warning, I think she will make a Saturday class filly in time.

“Kouklara is honest, the track is a bit wet and she’ll like that. Beirut Miss wants a wet track, she got a dry track last week after winning first-up on the wet.”

Improving filly Euros also holds a nomination for Rosehill on Saturday but if she does run in the TAB Handicap (1100m) Pride says she’ll acquit herself well on the back of her second-up placing earlier this month.

“She went terrific at Canterbury the other day. She’s just starting to mature and develop and she seems pretty reliable,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting