A change can be as good as a holiday and it has certainly put a spring in the step of veteran gelding Inn Keeper as he prepares to make his debut for a new stable.
The former Victorian will be one of two runners for Joe Pride in Saturday’s Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick after his connections sent him north in search of rain-affected tracks.
It was also hoped a change of environment might reinvigorate the eight-year-old, who has spent his career under Symon Wilde.
Wilde remains in the ownership and Inn Keeper has come to Pride with his blessing.
Renowned for his success at coaxing the best out of tried horses, Pride has been pleased with Inn Keeper since he arrived a month ago and believes the change of scenery has had the desired effect.
“He has sparked up because I was told he was a very casual, laidback horse and his work since he’s been up here has been quite sharp,” Pride said.
“You can imagine, he has been in the same place doing the same thing for five or six seasons. He’s in a new environment and often that can spark a horse up.
“I think he can run well. This Bob Charley, I don’t think it’s a vintage edition and he will be well placed on Saturday.”
Snippy Fox resumes for the trainer in the same race and was a first-up winner on a wet track last campaign.
However, Pride admits her three lead-up trials have been underwhelming and while he has been happy with the five-year-old’s demeanour around the stable, he wants to see her compete on Saturday to show she still wants to be a racehorse.
“She has always trialled below what she does at the races and I’m clinging to that because they haven’t been what I wanted to see,” Pride said.
“I just want to give her a go at a stakes race on a wet track and then a decision will be made in the next couple of races on whether she goes to stud this year.
“She is a very capable mare. It is a little bit ambitious being in a Listed race but at her best, I would have thought she could run top three.”
With two early scratchings, a field of nine will tackle the Bob Charley AO Stakes with the Mark Newnham-trained Dragonstone the early favourite.