Trainer takes pride in achievement

By Caryl Williamson

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - A double at Canterbury on Wednesday with two new stable acquisitions fulfilled a long held ambition for trainer Joe Pride.

For the first time in his training career, Pride's name will appear in the premiership tables above that of Peter Snowden, head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Australia.

It may only be for a week or two but that's enough for Pride.

"Not that I'm counting but you don't do that often when you are a little bloke like me," Pride said.

"The good thing is it's going to be in The Sportsman so I can cut the page out and keep it.

"I've had my eye on this for a while."

The wins took Pride's tally to 25 for the season with Snowden on 24.

Pride has 35 horses in work compared to Snowden's team of more than 100 and the best strike rate of the leading Sydney trainers of around one winner in every four runners.

For the past two seasons he has run fourth in the Sydney premiership which is dominated by Sydney's big three of Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller and Snowden.

The first of Pride's winners came courtesy of the former David Hayes-trained Othello who took out the Computer Air Plate (1200m).

The four-year-old was a $1.9 million yearling but after failing to live up to that price tag, he was sent to a tried horses sale where bloodstock agent James Bester paid $40,000 to secure him for Kia Ora's Ananda Krishnan.

"I bought him for Ananda Krishnan and he was gelded," Bester said.

"The $40,000 looks like a cheap buy now."

Trilione, formerly with Anthony Cummings, brought up the double for Pride with victory in Integra Handicap (1200m).

While Pride was basking in the wins, an ailing Corey Brown would have been ruing his luck with Nash Rawiller claiming is ride on Othello and Glyn Schofield taking over on Trilione.

Emerging star apprentice Josh Adams claimed a double at the meeting on Brian's Honour and Mr Latar to peg back Brenton Avdulla's lead to one.

Avdulla rode a treble at Saturday's Randwick meeting to take a three win advantage but lost his his claim in the process.

Adams still claims two kilograms and his win on Mr Latar was for his boss Garry Frazer.

Brayroan won for Waller who now has 31 wins for the season with Waterhouse on 27-1/2.