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By Ray Hickson

‘Lewis’ Gives Pride A Hand In Big Dance

Fresh from winning the TAB Everest, trainer Joe Pride can now set his sights on the $3 million Big Dance with King Of The Castle after he overcame a mishap at the start to claim the Wild Card (1600m) at Randwick.

Reece Jones and King Of The Castle (Pic: Steve Hart)

The gelding became eligible with his second placing in the Coffs Harbour Cup earlier this year and Pride said the horse known at home as ‘Lewis’ deserved the right to chase the big bucks after such a strong performance.

“I’d have been happy to take our part in the Little Dance but when you get invited to the Big Dance who is going to the Little Dance,’’ he said.

“He will give a good account of himself because he came here today dropping a massive amount of weight from a good run at Rosehill and he’ll get in pretty light in that Big Dance.”

Reece Jones reported that the six-year-old went down on his nose out of the gates but did a good job to compose himself and travel kindly just off the speed before showing fight to run down Highlights in the last 50m. The runner-up also earned an exemption into the Big Dance.

Pride is clearly taken with King Of The Castle who came from a town called Riverton on the South Island of New Zealand and has been a work in progress since he was purchased in late 2021.

“I’ve got a real crush on this horse, I love him, there’s something about him,’’ he said.

“He’s from the bottom of the South Island, Kelvin Tyler who trained him is still a part owner and it’s been an interesting journey to say the least but he’s a pretty cool horse.”

Another Diamond Day For Kathy

You only need to win by a nose and that’s exactly how much Palmetto had to spare at the finish of a thrilling $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) – to the relief of jockey Kathy O’Hara.

After a pre-race chat with trainer John Sargent the in-form jockey, who won the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom on Rediener three weeks ago, knew she had to get the timing right on a horse with a short, but sharp, sprint.

“He began really quickly actually and he just travelled lovely throughout the whole race,’’ O’Hara said.

“They really put the foot down from the 500m and I was mindful because Sarge did say he’s probably a horse that only has a short turn of foot.

“He really wanted to win, he was all out late. He found quickly, he needed to find a bit more late and he did.

“I’m really happy for Sarge and the team. The owners seem like lovely people and it’s nice when the good guys win.”

It was Palmetto’s second feature win having claimed the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford back in May and he’s now exempt from ballot into the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 11.

The Five Diamonds is also on the cards for Filante Handicap winner Unspoken who made it three straight while behind Palmetto there were eye-catching runs from Democracy Manifest (fourth), who clocked the fastest last 600m of 34.76 (Punter’s Intelligence), and Fawkner Park (fifth).

Legendary Return For Joe's Pricey Recruit

She set her new owners back a cool $1.6 million, and trainer Joe Pride is already thinking about the autumn with stakeswinning mare Dashing Legend after an impressive first-up win.

Dashing Legend wins at Randwick (Pic: Steve Hart)

Formerly owned by Everest winning owner Bon Ho, the four-year-old was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock at the Chairman’s Sale in May and made a small, but immediate, return on the investment taking out the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap (1100m).

Under 61.5kg, Dashing Legend was positioned behind the leaders by Chad Schofield and he took an inside run to drive the mare through before holding on to beat Stromboli by three-quarters of a length with With Your Blessing in third.

Pride said it will only be a light spring for the mare as he sets his sights on loftier goals next year.

“I’m interested in learning a bit about her which will equip the team to deal with her in the autumn,” he said.

“When she gets on tracks that are a little bit softer, that’s what she likes as well.

“She comes here with a nice amount of improvement in her but also after a couple of nice trials ready to show us something.

"There’s a lot of intent placing them back in grade and just trying to win with them first and give them a bit of confidence.

“As we get through to the autumn she will be a a very handy addition.”

Dashing Legend was a Listed winner of the Fireball back in March and Pride said she will return to Randwick on Big Dance Day, November 7, likely in the $300,000 Choisir Handicap (1100m).

Express Route To Golden Gift

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott two-year-old juggernaut has its sights set on next month’s $1 million Inglis Golden Gift (1100m) with Shangri La Express after the colt made an impressive debut at Randwick.

There have been four races in Sydney for the youngsters this season and Tulloch Lodge has won three of them with Shangri La Express claiming the James Squire Kirkham Plate (1000m) to join Sovereign Hill, who won at Warwick Farm on October 11 and the Breeders’ Plate trifecta of Espionage, Straight Charge and Prost.

Neil Paine, deputising for Gai and Adrian, said Shangri La Express is all upside and now looks to spearhead the stable’s Golden Gift hopes.

“He’ll take the most improvement out of that because he’d only had the one trial,’’ Paine said.

“He began so well, our other horse (The Three Hundred) kicked up on the inside and for a while I didn’t know what Regan was going to do then the took the bull between the horns and off he went.

“Whether we’ve got nice two-year-olds to come, they are so well educated. Some are a little behind at the moment but within a month they’ll take the next step.

“Our Magic Millions horses are ready to come along in the next three or four weeks.”

Bullock Breaks New Ground

He was the leading jockey in Australia last season so it’d be a small surprise to learn that jockey Aaron Bullock achieved his first metropolitan double at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Aaron Bullock (Pic: Steve Hart)

Only one of his 207.5 winners for 2022/23 came on a city track so to notch successive winners on Whodat in the TAB Highway and Peace Officer in the Midway is something he’s rapt about.

The primary reason for riding at Randwick was to partner Cepheus in the Filante Handicap (1600m) for Matthew Dunn but the gelding had to be scratched after a minor setback.

“I very rarely come down here and I’m usually 15th or 20th in line whereas in the bush I’m on the top three or four horses and they are all winning chances,’’ Bullock said.

“I’m grateful, because it might be another year before I do this again. They looked on paper like my best two and I’m just glad I could get the job done.”

Dunn, who posted his 32nd Highway win with Whodat, is set to gallop Cepheus on Monday before he gets his Big Dance campaign back on track with a barrier trial on Friday at Rosehill.

The gelding, $4.50 favourite for the $3m Big Dance, was found to have some slight swelling above the near-fore fetlock but Dunn reported he hasn’t missed any work.

Check out the replays and results from Spring Wild Card Day at Royal Randwick