Improving sprinter Accredited will look to complete a four-timer when he steps up to stakes company for the first time this weekend.
The Joe Pride-trained five-year-old is set to race in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday, after being the favourite for the abandoned Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last weekend.
“It’s Plan E, actually,” Pride explained regarding this weekend’s race.
“It’s nowhere near as good a plan (as the Carrington Stakes). We were going to run a short-priced favourite in a Listed race. But he will still run well because he’s a nice horse. I’m happy with that.”
Accredited has won his last three starts in Benchmark 72 (1200m), Benchmark 78 (1300m), and Benchmark 88 (1400m) races, taking his career record to six wins and four placings from 13 starts.
“He was always a bit of a brute of a horse so he wasn’t slow to develop, he was just slow to get there,” Pride said.
“He went shin sore at least three times. He seemed to always hit hurdles every time I brought him in, different things that would stop him getting to the races.
“You hear this too often, but it was probably a blessing in disguise. He is older and stronger now and going through the grades at a time when his body can handle it.
“It’s not a bad thing.”
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