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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Joe Pride is unlikely to make use of a Doncaster Mile exemption should one of his reps, Stockman and Brutality, win Saturday’s Group 2 $750,000 The Agency Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick – but it’s not off the table.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Dealing with horses is all about being flexible and while the Warwick Farm conditioner is likely to send the five-year-olds on different paths experience tells him things can change.

Stockman’s road to the summer feature has been exactly to Pride’s plan but he displayed his willingness to change things up with Brutality and said both will head to the barriers with no excuses.

“I believe I have given them both the right preparation to be at their respective peaks,’’ Pride said.

“The two times they’ve clashed Stockman has beaten him. Both those runs you could argue Brutality didn’t get the breaks so that could even them up a bit.

“Stockman is the more reliable tradesmanlike of the two, Brutality has got that little bit of brilliance about him. I don’t underestimate him in a 20 horse field where they are going to go quick.”

Both horses contested the traditional Villiers lead up, last month’s Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill with Stockman finishing second and Brutality fourth.

The latter backed up last weekend, dropping 100m, under 60.5kg and ran into third while Pride was keen to keep the former, who is already a 2400m winner, on the fresh side.

“Originally I planned to take Brutality from the Festival to the Villiers but he overdid it a bit and I saw an opportunity to run him again,’’ Pride said.

“I thought it was probably the prep that might suit him better.

“I’m a big one for having a plan but also mindful that you’ve got to be able to adapt and read your horse. The kind of run he had I think it sets him up better for this week than if he’d just come straight from the Festival.”

It’s likely Brutality will continue on to the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) on Boxing Day. Stockman, on the other hand, could end up in anything from a Doncaster to a Sydney Cup depending on what unfolds in the autumn.

The sharpness he’s shown in his two runs back remind the trainer of his 2009 Doncaster winner Vision And Power so it’s a case of never say never if the Villiers falls to him.

It’s worth remembering the number one Doncaster seed in the Pride camp, Epsom winner Private Eye, isn’t going to be displaced regardless of Saturday’s result.

“Vision And Power, when he came back for the preparation where he won the Doncaster, didn’t look like a Doncaster horse,’’ he said.

“I think that is where Stockman is at the moment. His best might be 2000m, I haven’t raced him enough to know but I think he is spot on for a mile on Saturday.

“If I was going to put (Stockman) aside and aim him at the Doncaster I’m forgoing a lot of opportunities in other races to do that.

“If you win a Villiers on a wet track it doesn’t make you a Doncaster horse and I have Private Eye for the same syndicator. He’s run 2400m no doubt so there is a fair chance he will run two miles.

“I’m interested in, we’ll see after Saturday, potentially aiming at the Sydney Cup.”

Stockman was $12 with TAB on Thursday, Brutality slightly shorter at $9, and meets Festival winner Ellsberg 1.5kg better for a 1.2 length defeat. It’s a margin Pride would be happy enough to believe he can reel back.

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“It wasn’t a tough run for him and I haven’t had to do a lot with him since, I’m trying to leave the speed in his legs,’’ Pride said.

Pride would love a heavy track for all three of his Randwick runners, but a soft track will give his Villiers hopes every chance, particularly Snippy Fox.

The mare, $13 on Thursday, was a game first-up winner at Canterbury on a heavy track two weeks ago and steps up in class in the ACY Securities Handicap (1200m).

“I thought if she got a wet track she’s a great price,’’ he said.

“She’s so reliable, she puts herself up on speed, 53kg on her back, I think she has got a great chance. I don’t mind the look of her in that race.”

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