Joe Pride’s knack for rejuvenating horses was on show again as Gatsby’s returned to the winner’s stall at Randwick.
The gelding had not won since taking out the Listed Rosebud (1100m) in 2024, despite later contesting top-level races including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Gatsby’s joined the Pride stable this preparation and finished midfield at his first run for the yard earlier this month.
He found a more suitable assignment in Saturday’s Racing And Sports Handicap (1200m).
“I came here today reasonably confident because I thought the first-up run had a lot of merit from a wide gate,” Pride said.
“There is a decent amount of improvement to come.
“He’s a horse who has got a pretty good record still. He has run around in some good races. It wasn’t a matter of finding out if he had any ability, it was just a matter of recapturing that. It was a good result.”
Chad Schofield pushed Gatsby’s ($6) to the front halfway up the straight and the gelding held on strongly to beat Bundeena ($4 fav) by a length, with Uzziah ($12) close behind.
Pride said the key takeaway was Gatsby’s willingness to fight out the finish.
“It was just a matter of, has he got the desire anymore? And I liked the way he was challenged in that last hundred metres or so and he fought on really well,” he said.
“I think he’s a horse who hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet, so hopefully we can get a few more wins.”