Godolphin roughie gets Golden chance in 2025 The Hunter

Few trainers in Australia can match Joe Pride’s record of breathing new life into horses past their prime. Yet the Warwick Farm mentor has also proven equally adept at nurturing stars from scratch, having guided Ceolwulf, Think About It and Private Eye to Group 1 success.

Early in his career, Pride gained recognition by transforming tried horses such as Vision And Power and Sacred Choice into top-class gallopers — both climbing from modest grades to elite victories.

“Honestly, there is nothing I enjoy better than someone ringing me up and saying, can you give this horse a go? Something that was maybe good early and has trained off. I love that challenge,” Pride said.

“I’ve never been able to afford to buy really expensive yearlings, so the next option for me is taking on a horse that has had some challenges but has good ability.

“I’d love to think our system is as good as any at getting the best out of them.”

Pride’s latest challenge comes in the form of Golden Mile, the former Caulfield Guineas winner who returns to racing after an aborted stint at stud.

The Godolphin-bred six-year-old was retired to stud in 2024 but suffered an injury early in his first season, prompting connections to geld him and return him to training. Though he’s yet to recapture his three-year-old form, he has shown flashes of talent, including a Group 1 placing behind Joliestar.

Pride has taken over his training this season and is eager to see improvement after unplaced runs in Sydney and the Russell Balding Stakes. The addition of blinkers could be the spark ahead of his next assignment in The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.

“He’s a good horse. He has been to stud, he’s come back, he’s been gelded. He has had a pretty full life, and I hope that hasn’t taken its toll on him because everything I’ve seen at home suggests it hasn’t and I’ve got a racehorse right there ready to go,” Pride said.

“He’s had two runs back now, he’s a big gross boy – his stable name is Sumo, that’s what he’s built like – and Sumo has needed a couple of runs, as you can imagine.

“He’s had them now so I’d like to think he can go on with it.

“Blinkers go on. I’m not going to say it’s D-day, but it’s close. He’s got to show he’s still got it there and I can’t imagine he will have an excuse on Saturday.”

Golden Mile is priced at $23 with Jean Van Overmeire to ride from barrier six, as Pride looks to reignite the spark of another former star.

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