Sydney’s newest $2 million race has already landed on the radar of trainer Joe Pride, who believes it shapes as a perfect fit for Randwick winner Silent Agenda.
‘The Big Dance’s, a 1600 metre race to be run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day, was among Racing NSW’s latest initiatives announced earlier this week and Pride said he hoped to target Saturday’s George Mullen Farewell Mile (1600m) winner at the feature.
The Big Dance will be restricted to horses who have contested one of 25 Country Cups across NSW and Pride’s racing manager Orla Pearl, who is a part-owner of Silent Agenda, is keen to be part of it.
“Orla has already told me that he is a Big Dance horse so I’ve got to get him into a Country Cup somewhere,” Pride said.
“We bought the horse with Country Cups in mind and when they announced that race we were like, why not?”
Ridden by apprentice Tyler Schiller, Silent Agenda ($15) swept to the lead halfway up the Randwick straight and defied all efforts to run him down, scoring by a half-length over Wairere Falls ($7) with Canasta ($7.50) third.
It was his sixth win in 42 starts and Pride felt a significant weight drop played a role.
“I love in these Saturday races getting right down in the weights. It is a massive advantage and something you don’t get at the midweeks,” he said.
“It’s his second Saturday win and I think once we get over further, he is going to be even more effective.”