The Little Dance sweet for Pride’s Estadio Mestalla
A lesson learned 12 months earlier could reap rewards for trainer Joe Pride on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick when Estadio Mestalla lines up in the Little Dance.
The mile race is the understudy to the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) on the same program but with a total prizemoney purse of $750,000, is lucrative in its own right.
Last year, the Pride-trained King Of The Castle finished fourth in the main race and this time around, he is content to have Estadio Mestalla chasing the smaller prize.
“I wish I’d done this with King Of The Castle last year,” Pride said.
“He was qualified for the Little Dance and then he went and won the final lead-up and got put in the Big Dance and he ran fourth.
“I reckon he would have won the Little Dance and the Little Dance is worth $430,000 to the winner.
“I really want this one. I just think it’s the perfect race for this horse.”
Estadio Mestalla qualified for Tuesday’s Cup Day feature with a runner-up finish behind last year’s Big Dance second placegetter Cepheus in the South Grafton Cup (1610m) in July.
The six-year-old has been building nicely at his past two runs, doing his best work late when midfield behind Ostraka over 1200m and again when fourth to Willaidow over 1400m, both at Randwick last month.
He is winner over a mile and Pride says he cannot fault the horse’s preparation.
“Estadio Mestalla has done everything I have wanted to see him do going towards this. He is really well placed,” he said.
Estadio Mestalla has drawn barrier five with Josh Parr to ride.
The Little Dance boasts a capacity field of 20 plus four emergencies with the Chris Waller-trained Waterford a $4.20 betting app favourite ahead of Estadio Mestalla at $4.80.
More Racing News
Extra distance calling Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot
Lady Of Camelot may have come up short in last Saturday’s $3m Magic Millions Sunlight, but her connections were far from disheartened by the performance. The filly, a former Golden Slipper champion, finished second to Private Harry in the 1100m race, leading her team to believe she could excel over longer...
Bjorn Baker cheering O’ Ole for more Millions magic
There’s a sense of history repeating itself for Bjorn Baker after his filly O’ Ole drew barrier three for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic, the same gate his sole winner in the race, Unencumbered drew in 2014, and Baker has followed a similar path this time around. Both Unencumbered and O’ Ole won...
Something about Mary at Mornington
Mary Eliza, a daughter of one of New Zealand’s top staying mares has broken her maiden at Mornington, with the progeny of three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval taking out the 1500m contest by 1.5 lengths. The switch from Caulfield Heath to Mornington didn’t worry the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman trained...
Officials confident in Gold Coast track
The location of Saturday’s Magic Millions race day hinges on a gallop of six horses and leading jockeys, to take place early Thursday morning. A section of the Gold Coast track was discovered to be damaged last week which forced Saturday night’s meeting to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast, but...
Kelly Schweida seeking more Magic Millions success
Kelly Schweida has won a Magic Millions race twice in his expansive training career and will take a competitive team to Saturday’s meeting, headlined by Miss Joelene and Hella Fast. Miss Joelene backs up after taking out the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at Sunshine Coast on Saturday and will line up in the...
Fire damages Caulfield stands, treated as suspicious
A fire has broken out in the Norman Robinson stand at Caulfield racecourse on Tuesday morning, with the blaze being treated as suspicious. Fire fighters were called to Caulfield shortly after 6:00am on Tuesday with one stand ablaze, incorporating seating and hospitality areas. No one was injured however Victoria Police confirmed the...
Icarian Dream’s odds drift after outside barrier draw in 2025 Magic Millions Classic
One time Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite, Icarian Dream has drawn the outside barrier in Saturday’s feature. Ciaron Maher’s quest for a third Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) in five years has just gotten a bit harder after his sole runner Icarian Dream drew barrier 21 of 21 for the $3...
Life changing win for Doyle in Magic Millions Sunlight
Newcastle-based trainer Nathan Doyle and Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan achieved the most significant moment in their respective careers when Private Harry raced away to win the inaugural running of the $3 million The Sunlight (1100m) at Sunshine Coast. It was four wins in four starts for Private Harry – a son of Harry Angel...
Apollo Stakes return planned for Ceolwulf
It is just under six weeks until Ceolwulf is scheduled to make his return to the races and trainer Joe Pride says the dual Group One winner is shaping up as a “bigger, stronger horse” heading into the autumn. Ceolwulf announced himself as one of the rising stars of the Australian turf...
Chrissie likely to sit out Standish Handicap
Ciaron Maher is likely to resist testing Mrs Chrissie at the Flemington 1200 metres for the first time in next Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m), instead setting his sights on a Listed race over a shorter trip on the Australia Day weekend. The speedster will most likely next run on January 25,...