Joe Pride breaks his own rules with $1 million Golden Gift filly

It is rare for Joe Pride to saddle up a two-year-old runner pre-Christmas, but in Godolphin filly Originate, the trainer has found himself a readymade juvenile.

Best known for his patient approach and knack for getting longevity from horses such as Private Eye, Coal Crusher and Estadio Mestalla, Pride says Originate’s natural athleticism and precocity has put her in the frame to make an early debut in Saturday’s $1 million Golden Gift (1100m).

“Everything I ask her, she’s able to do it. That’s the marker,” Pride said.

“If they’re able to do it, they’re ready when they’re ready. I don’t necessarily have an age I need them to be to race. I just need them to be ready, and everything she’s showing so far is she’s there.

“She has got very much a two-year-old family behind her. She’s a beautiful filly, and in time, I think she’s going to make a really nice horse.”

While Pride’s juvenile runners before Christmas are few and far between, he did prepare Shalatin to finish a close second to Sejardan in the 2021 renewal of Saturday’s race.

Given the importance of barriers from the 1100m start at Rosehill, Pride was hoping for a low draw and got his wish with Originate landing gate two.

The filly split Golden Gift rivals Vain Ambition and Sharjawiyah in her most recent trial, and while she did race greenly in patches, Pride said it had little to do with her tractability and everything to do with learning to race around other horses.

“(Jockey) Chad (Schofield) was more saying she was running away from the other horse. It’s all new for her and that’s why I wanted a good draw. I don’t want to make it too hard for her,” he said.

“She’s tractable at home. She’s a quick learner. She’s got a lot going for her.”

Originate is by gun stallion Street Boss, the sire of Everest winner Tempted, out of Group 3-winning Lonhro mare Emanate and is a homebred for Godolphin.