Candlewick ready to light up racing at Randwick

Candlewick’s arrival in the Joe Pride stable has given the trainer another well-bred mare to work with alongside City Of Lights.

By Pierro out of Pinocchio, Candlewick is a half-sister to 2020 Everest winner Classique Legend, adding further depth to Pride’s team.

With City Of Lights already a stakes winner thanks to her success in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown, Pride is keen to see Candlewick earn her own black type.

“That’s the plan for a mare like that,” Pride said.

“She is so well bred, a half-sister to Classique Legend, so that’s the next step for her to try to get to stakes grade.

“We want to try to knock off one of these Saturday races first and build up her benchmark and confidence. She is only lightly raced, and I’ve got good reason to expect the best is yet to come from her.”

The mare showed encouraging signs first-up when finishing in the placings over 1100m at Randwick.

She now tackles 1200m in Saturday’s Spelling at Coolmore Mt White Handicap, with Pride confident she will be competitive.

“I thought her run was good first-up, they were just too sharp for her,” he said.

“She got into an awkward spot in between horses and back to mares grade, she will be very hard to beat on Saturday.”

Attention also turns to Cool Jakey, who remains an acceptor for the Carrington Stakes (1400m) pending track conditions.

The gelding is better suited on rain-affected ground and Pride is cautious after his run in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m).

“I think he will handle the back-up, but it’s more about getting him back on the right surface,” he said.

“He didn’t really do much the other day. He got a dry track and basically put up the white flag, so I’ve brought him home and he seems fine.

“He is usually very honest, very genuine, and he is always thereabouts.”

Form students looking ahead to the Carrington Stakes can check current racing betting markets ahead of the meeting.

The post Candlewick ready to light up Randwick first appeared on Just Horse Racing.