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| Sumita Pawar |
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Less than three weeks away is Sydney's first black-type race of the upcoming season, and Joe Pride is aiming to make an early impact by selecting two sprinters for next month's Gr.2 Missile Stakes.
Pride is eager to start the latest chapters of both new stable additions.
Argentia & Big Parade: Racing's Rising Stars
"I'm going to have two new faces there in the Missile, Argentia and Big Parade," Pride said.
"They're both going to trial again on Monday the 24th (of July) and then off to the Missile on the fifth of August."
Argentia, who has previously won two Group Three races under the training of Anthony and Sam Freedman in Victoria, has won three out of her 13 starts. However, she faced difficulties in her last campaign as she failed to place in three races during the autumn season.
Pride is still learning about her, but he likes what he sees so far.
"She's only lightly raced and she's a really nice mare," he said.
"She trialled at Warwick Farm the other day and she went really well. I'm quietly confident she is going to come up for us."
Big Parade came under Pride's care after trainer Mark Newnham left for Hong Kong. The 6YO, who is a top-class sprinter, last competed in the autumn of 2022 where he achieved placings in the Group One Galaxy and Group Three Hall Mark Stakes. His return during the Brisbane winter carnival was delayed due to a minor setback. Despite his extended absence, Pride believes that another trial will ensure he is ready for the Missile Stakes.
"He will have had four trials by that point, so I don't think he'll be underdone," Pride said.
"I entered him in Brisbane but he had a little issue behind and I didn't want to take any risks with that so I didn't send him.
"I wanted to get him right. He is a lovely horse and he's going well."
Pride's established stars Private Eye and Think About It will have a later spring start, with the pair set to resume in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 16 and the Premiere Stakes (1200m) on September 30.
"Private Eye has been back for over two weeks. He's going really well and I'm happy with him," Pride said.
"Think About It has had just over five weeks out and will be back in the stable on Monday."