Terravista was beaten by rival Chautauqua in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m), but trainer Joe Pride is hopeful that his star sprinter can turn-the-tables when the pair clash in the 2015 All Aged Stakes this weekend.
Terravista has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Terravista upstaged Chautauqua to win the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was beaten across the line by Chautauqua in both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
Pride admits that he was disappointed with the performance of Terravista in the T.J. Smith Stakes, but he told Racing Ahead this morning that the Captain Rio gelding has thrived coming out of the race and can return to winning form in the 2015 All Aged Stakes this weekend.
“His run the other day was obviously a little bit disappointing,” Pride said.
“I’ve got my horse on par if not ahead of Chautauqua and I was disappointed by the dominance that he beat us with.
“All is not lost, it was a funny sort of track the other day and I think that played a role and I am looking forward to running him again on Saturday.
“He is very well and that is the reason I am running him again.
“My first instinct was to put him in the paddock after the run because I thought it was a bit disappointing, but he has given me no indication that he needs that, so we have kept going and I am very pleased with what he has done in the last week.”
Terravista has been trained as a short course sprinter in his two most recent preparations, but he took out the Time Thief At Darley Handicap (1400m) at Randwick in November of 2013 and finished a credible second in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) a week late over a similar distance to the All Aged Stakes.
Pride believes that fitness will not be an issue for Terravista in the All Aged Stakes and he is happy to given him another opportunity over 1400 metres in the Group 1 event this weekend.
“He is fully wound up for this,” Pride said.
“He has been really relaxed in his races lately and that is going to help him.
“He loves Randwick and he races well there all the time and I am more than happy with him.”
The 2015 All Aged Stakes field was released this morning and Terravista will face the likes of Chautauqua, Dissident, Shooting To Win, Wandjina, Scissor Kick and Lucky Hussler in the $400,000 event.
