Randwick’s Civic Stakes to Feature In-Form Stablemates from Joe Pride’s Stable

Two of Joe Pride’s in-form stablemates with strong form on rain-affected ground will carry the hopes of the trainer in the upcoming Listed Civic Stakes at Randwick this Saturday.

Pride confirmed that last-start winner Excelladus and the talented Estadio Mestalla are both being prepared for the 1400m race. While the trainer is also likely to nominate King Of The Castle, he is favoring an interstate option for that gelding.

Excelladus and Estadio Mestalla Impress in Recent Outings

Both Excelladus and Estadio Mestalla have pleased Pride since their last start performances at Randwick on June 8. Excelladus posted a narrow win in the heavy 9 conditions, while Estadio Mestalla was finishing strongly to take fourth place in the same race.

“Excelledus, he loves the wet. I have been really happy with him,” Pride said. “Estadio Mestalla seems to be working his way up to a distance that will allow him to do his best. He got too far back last start, but it would be good to get a nice gate for him, he will drop in weight, and he’ll be hard to beat.”

Estadio Mestalla Seeks First Black-Type Win

Estadio Mestalla is yet to win on rain-affected ground, but he has finished runner-up in three of his four starts on slow tracks and also raced well in his two runs on heavy, including a closing fourth in the Takeover Target Stakes first-up. Excelladus, on the other hand, has won half of his 10 appearances on rain-affected conditions.

Both horses will be searching for their first black-type win, but Pride acknowledges that capturing a stakes race in Sydney won’t be easy, even with the focus on the winter carnival in Brisbane.

“It’s the middle of winter and most of the good horses are in Brisbane, but such is the depth of Sydney racing that I’m sure it will be a good race,” he said. “But it is a nice opportunity for both of mine.”

Tyler Schiller, who partnered Estadio Mestalla last start, will stick with the horse, while Reece Jones will ride Excelladus, replacing Sam Clipperton who won’t be able to make the horse’s expected weight.

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