3 minute read
Randwick belonged to Joe Pride last Saturday courtesy of a team led by stable stars Tiger Tees and Terravista.
The eight race Warwick Stakes Day program possessed five stakes races and while they were all hit by scratchings, some of Sydney’s best still fronted up at the meeting.
A field of seven assembled for the Warwick Stakes (1400m) after the scratchings of Boban, Messene, Dissident and Laser Hawk.
The heavy track was always going to wreak havoc on final fields last Saturday with those left in the Warwick Stakes mostly mudlarks, namely Tiger Tees, Royal Descent, Criterion and Sacred Falls.
Returning to Sydney after enjoying a first up success in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap, Tiger Tees (1400m) again found himself contesting an ideal race second up.
While most contesting the Warwick Stakes have loftier goals further into their spring campaigns, Joe Pride has the seven-year-old up and running early this season and possessed a fitness edge over most of his rivals.
With Glyn Schofield in the saddle, Tiger Tees rolled to the front and controlled proceedings at a rather leisurely tempo. 
The race unfolded beautifully for the son of Dubawi as Schofield nursed him up the Randwick rise before the pair held their rivals at bay for a 1.3 length success.
Royal Descent and Criterion each resumed well, working home along the inside for second and third respectively.
Well supported favourite Sacred Falls was not far behind in fourth.
The win was Tiger Tees’ second from as many runs this prep and number four in his eight runs this year.
While a Group 1 winner during that time having claimed The Galaxy in the autumn, Tiger Tees accounted for a strong field of gallopers last Saturday.
His rivals were likely still soft in condition with a view to loftier spring goals but regardless, Tiger Tees ran to a new master Timeform figure of 121.
The win was a pound above his prior peak rating achieved when claiming The Galaxy during the autumn.
Tiger Tees’ 13th career win came in marginally below the prior five-year-winning average of the event.
From 29 starts, Tiger Tees has accumulated 13 wins, five minor placings and more than $1.1million in prizemoney earnings.
Despite taking out the feature event on the Randwick card last Saturday, Tiger Tees shared the spotlight with his brother Terravista. 
The Captain Rio gelding was a soft winner on resuming in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m).
It was an exciting win by the five-year-old who wasted no time in putting to bed concerns about his wet track credentials.
Terravista travelled sweetly throughout behind the speed under in form jockey Hugh Bowman, ambled up to the early leaders a furlong from home and cruised away.
It was a clinical success and one which bodes well for the remainder of his spring campaign.
New season four-year-olds In Cahoots and Bull Point filled second and third respectively.
Again, Joe Pride found a perfect race for Terravista to commence in with his classiest opposition largely middle distance/staying types resuming from spells with a view toward races over further.
He still put the opposition away well enough to warrant a Timeform rating of 115+ being awarded to the performance, marginally above the previous five-year-winning average of the Show County Quality.
It is the second time he has run to this mark after returning the figure when claiming the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) during the autumn.
Terravista will be given a let up before returning in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 20 before the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at the course a fortnight later.
They shape as ideal races for the flashy chestnut who should be suited under Set Weight plus Penalties conditions of The Shorts and now the weight-for-age of The Premiere.
A clash against Lankan Rupee in the VRC Sprint (1200m) down Flemington’s Straight Six may then follow if Terravista can continue on his winning ways second and third up.
Last Saturday’s Warwick Stakes program won’t be one Joe Pride forgets.
The Warwick Farm-based trainer took five runners to the races and the end result was four winners and a second.
The second placing came when Green Beret rounded out the quinella of the final event behind stablemate Diamond Oasis. 
Diamond Oasis appears one worth following this spring after his first up success in the Ranvet Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000m).
The son of Lonhro at no stage looked comfortable on the heavy track however won in a head-bobber over stablemate Green Beret.
A former John O’Shea-trained runner, Diamond Oasis long showed promise as a younger horse however a gelding operation during his latest spell should see the sprinter come back much more focused and ready to showcase his talent.
Rock Sturdy continued his fine form this preparation by claiming the TAB Early Quaddie Benchmark 85 Handicap (1400m). 
The son of Fastnet Rock is working through his grades this campaign and is becoming an increasingly likely light weight chance in the Epsom Handicap on October 4.
Partnering three of Joe Pride’s four winners during the course of the day was Hugh Bowman.
AJC Derby winner Criterion returning in the Warwick Stakes may have been all which prevented Bowman from riding Tiger Tees in last Saturday’s feature.
The Joe Pride-Hugh Bowman has long been one which has warranted respect and prior to last Saturday’s Randwick meeting, statistics suggested the pair were in store for a good day.
Their partnership overall boasts a winning strike rate of near 25% while during season 2013/14, it exceeded 40% (42%) at a healthy 17.5% profit on turnover.
In addition, Hugh Bowman has been on fire since returning from a riding stint in Hong Kong.
He is clearly the form rider in Sydney at present with nine wins and six minor placings from just 26 rides since the season commenced.
Joe Pride’s domination of Warwick Stakes Day was understandably the key talking point from the eight race program last Saturday.
An honourable mention must go to two members from the fairer sex who bolstered their black type records. 
Bring Me The Maid was impressive in taking out the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first up while My Sabeel is now a Group winning mare at the age of seven following her 4.5 length cakewalk in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m).
