Group 1 performers Think About It and Private Eye have been the stars of the partnership between Joe Pride and Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds, but the trainer and syndicator continue to enjoy success across the board.
Emerging filly The Black Cloud has been a recent flagbearer for the black and lime colours, winning four of her six starts to earn a short freshen-up and a shot at the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) in the spring.
Fellow three-year-old and stablemate In Flight has also shown herself to be progressive, winning half of her eight starts including her past two in succession as she prepares to chase a hat-trick in Saturday’s ASX Maurice Farhart Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Consistently unearthing relatively inexpensive yearlings who can more than pay their way on the racetrack is no easy feat and Pride says that while it is a team effort, Walter does the bulk of the early research and inspections.
“Jamie does all the heavy lifting. He does the pre-inspections, all the work at the sales,” Pride said.
“I always have an idea of a few horses I like as well and then we’ll work on some short lists together.
“He is doing all the groundwork, but then unless I tick off on something, he doesn’t buy it.”
One horse who got the tick from both parties was In Flight.
While she broke her maiden last preparation, Pride said it was after her strong win on resumption at Gosford in May that he knew she could measure up to better company.
A daughter of Flying Artie, Pride hasn’t had many of the stallion’s progeny come through his yard, but he would be happy to take on a few more.
“I haven’t, but they are a good, tough breed that get better with age and clearly like the wet tracks,” Pride said.
“This filly is going really well, to state the obvious. She won well first-up to make you think she should be winning in town this prep, and then she has gone ‘bang-bang’ in Saturday races.”
Pride accepted with In Flight in two races but has opted to keep her to her own age.
Jay Ford sticks with the filly having partnered her to her past two wins.
She will be one of four Randwick runners for the stable and Pride regards In Flight as one of his better chances on the card, along with Testator Silens, who will have blinkers back on in the Kanebridge Handicap (1400m).