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Shalatin gets back and has used an explosive finish to charge at the end in his two spring appearances. The Shalaa colt has been tucked away by Pride in the knowledge he already has enough money to earn a place in the Golden Slipper. If he was to win Saturday’s Silver Slipper, it would activate a potential $1 million bonus for the Golden Slipper.
However, there is still a place for Pride’s patience with Shalatin, and he cautioned that there are bigger targets than the 1100m group 2 first-up.
“He has good improvement left in him, but I do expect him to run really well,” Pride said.
“I would swap barrier 13 for a middle draw, but those are the cards we have been dealt. He is an off-speed horse, so it’s not as much of a disadvantage as if he had to be there [up front].
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“It is going to be a fast-run race and that will be a reflection of what the Golden Slipper will be like. I’ve never seen a slow-run Slipper, and we want to find out if he will handle that pressure and find out where he sits.”
Pride knows where Eduardo fits. The eight-year-old, which came under Pride’s care a couple of years ago, has earned a place at the top of the country’s sprinting ranks with seven wins from 12 starts since his move to Sydney.
He has two group 1 victories and been placed in a TJ Smith and last year’s The Everest, but more importantly, since being with Pride he’s unbeaten first-up in three attempts.
That includes breaking the Randwick 1000m track record by half a second, or three lengths, when he fought off Lightning favourite Nature Strip in the Challenge Stakes this time last year.
A bold, tough, front-running sprinter, Eduardo will stick to the Challenge Stakes script in his return to Melbourne. Pride is hopeful for a perfect ending once again.
“We have to assume they are still the two best sprinters going around, so why would we ride to other horses’ strengths and give them a chance?” Pride said. “We know we can run quick and in fast-run races, the best horses win.”
Pride and patience to deliver results in Slipper and Lightning takes
Source: Philippines Alive
