Joe Pride-trained duo step up in town

Trainer Joe Pride (centre) with the happy owners of Warwick Farm winner Sikhing Glory.

Sikhing Glory and So Spirited have transferred their provincial form to town in style at Warwick Farm with the Joe Pride-trained duo continuing consistent preparations.

Four-year-old Sikhing Glory’s first metropolitan start justified Pride’s decision to step him up and indicated to his trainer he will be up to Saturday grade next preparation.

“He’s been making good progress at the provincials and we thought we’d better bring him to town while he’s not too badly handicapped,” Pride said.

Sikhing Glory ($8.50) found the front at the 100m-mark of Wednesday’s Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m) and hit the line a half-length clear of Blowing Kisses ($9) to record his third successive victory.

Magicaz ($13) was a short head back in third.

Pride thought the presence of $2 favourite Marble might have deterred some potential runners but he was always confident Sikhing Glory would add to wins at Kembla Grange and Gosford.

“The Darley horse maybe scared a few off but my bloke’s fit and well so it gave him an opportunity,” Pride said.

Sikhing Glory won his maiden at Canberra in his last preparation and had made steady improvement since.

“We knew he was making progress. The Sepoys (sire) seem to get a bit better with time,” Pride said.

“That might nearly do him for this prep in terms of how much he can improve. We’ll hang around for another midweeker and see how we go.”

So Spirited, the $5.50 joint favourite, followed his stablemate’s example by claiming a Benchmark 74 Handicap (1400m) by 1-1/4 lengths from Carluca ($11) with Alliterate ($12) and Tahsin ($9) in a dead-heat for third, another long neck away.

“I thought it was the right sort of assignment for him and he’s done the job,” Pride said.

“We’ve had some issues with his feet. They’re a constant management issue, but now that we’ve got him right he’s running in a really consistent vein of form.”