There aren’t many better at taking a tried horse and improving them to greater heights than Joseph Pride, who has taken care of talented gelding Poison Chalice.
The six-year-old by Savabeel was formerly prepared by Horsham-based trainer Paul Preusker, and was last seen running tenth in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).
While Poison Chalice is yet to win beyond BenchMark grade, he’s been about the mark in Group company on numerous occasions, coming closest when second in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) in the Spring of 2024.
Pride is hoping to get a better guide on the new stable addition when he lines up in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“Poison Chalice raced down in Melbourne, he’s a nice Savabeel horse,” Pride said.
“He’s going well, he trialled up, there’s improvement to come but he should run well.”
“He’s raced up over a mile to 2000 metres, we’ll kick him off at seven furlongs and see how he goes.”
“Lovely horse, hasn’t changed ownership, they’ve got a really nice horse.”
Pride has fitted Poison Chalice with two trials in readiness for this campaign, improving markedly in his latest Warwick Farm hitout when sitting on speed and finishing second over 791m, saying the horse had settled in well to Sydney.
“Getting them on the Sydney leg can be a bit overstated,” Pride said.
“When they come to you at the start of the preparation, he’s been in work for the last ten to twelve weeks and he’s done it all on the Sydney leg, and he seems to have adjusted well.”
Poison Chalice will be joined by front runner Cool Jakey, who was a strong winner at BenchMark 94 level last time out, with Pride saying he’s in great shape for another crack at Listed level.
