Trainer Joe Pride was beginning to question even his own judgement of lightly raced 3yo filly LICHESTER, until she emphatically endorsed his healthy opinion of her in Tuesday’s 1300m Maiden at Kembla Grange with a barrier to box, maiden breaking victory. ‘
“Am sure everyone was starting to question whether I had this filly right….and I was beginning to wonder myself after a few starts,” mused Pride post race.
“But she’s got a lot of ability and nice to see her put it together today. There’s no rush to get her up over ground because she’s going to take a bit longer to mature. But that’s what you want to see from a 3yo filly on the way up….get better with each prep.”
Reared at New Zealand’s renowned nursery Wentwood Grange, the daughter of RIBCHESTER was too good for her six rivals which included the more fancied stablemate, another Proven galloper called LITTLE COINTREAU. Coincidentally he was also bred by the Hawkins family at Wentwood and showed promise with a strong finishing third, despite doing everything possible the wrong way!
From small Australian bred crops, RIBCHESTER is posting a very impressive strike rate of 47.6%, with LICHESTER being his 10th individual winner this season from just 21 runners.
Such was our optimism for her future, the Proven team saw fit to snap up another by the sire at Karaka this year. The stylish colt out of ANICETA, who’ll also enter the Joe Pride stable, still has shares available….see HERE.
LICHESTER was Proven’s 24th winner in 2023, 35th for the season and was one of a pair of Pride trained 3yo’s who shed their maiden status this week after MOUNT WARNING disposed of her opponents at Gosford on ANZAC Day. In addition, three other patiently handled 3yo maidens ran well this week. Apart from LITTLE COINTREAU, budding stayers VEGAS ON FIRE and SLIPSTREAMING ran 3rd and 4th respectively at Wyong’ Thursday meeting.
Lichester gets a nice win!
Jay Ford with a good ride for @PrideRacing. pic.twitter.com/7ZJXr7yIYK
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2023