Trainer Joe Pride had a weekend to remember with a Rosehill Gardens double and maiden Group 1 victory as a greyhound owner
Pride, who had a winning double at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, had a weekend to savour after his emerging sprinter Gus The Jet produced a commanding performance to win the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic (520m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
It came just a few hours after Pride had been on track in Sydney's west to watch Estadio Mestalla cause a boilover in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes with stablemate Storm The Ramparts also saluting on the metropolitan card.
Gus The Jet is the first greyhound Pride has ever owned and the Group 1 conditioner races the emerging talent with his son Brave and Hong Kong-based star jockey Brenton Avdulla.
'I reckon there would be a few jealous dog owners that have been in the game for years and never had a Group 1 winner so we've just walked straight in and got one but that's thanks to Brenton Avdulla, he knows what he's doing and a good trainer Michelle Sultana,' Pride said.
'It's my first greyhound and he's named after my Corgi and I've just got a horse called Gus The Great as well, so I might need a trotter now as well.'
✈� Gus The Jet takes off!
He lands the @ladbrokescomau Vic Peters Classic Final in style at @wentyparkgreys tonight! #thedogs @wentyparkgreys @brentonavdulla @PrideRacing pic.twitter.com/936wPzPiPc
— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 5, 2025
With wife Kylie away, Pride spent the night watching the Group 1 from the comfort of his own home with his children.
'I've actually never been to Wentworth Park,' he said.
'I am not sure what I am missing but I am sure it would have been a buzz last night.
'We gave him a cheer at home.'
Pride had plenty to cheer about at Rosehill Gardens with Estadio Mestalla bouncing back to his best as a $61 outsider in the Winter Stakes while stablemate Accredited was third in the same race.
Estadio Mestalla is the star player in the Listed Winter Stakes and wins at big odds! âš½ï¸�â�'ï¸�
That's separate doubles to @PrideRacing and @djgibbons22 at Rosehill today! 🙌 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/eWBClKpNP6
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025
The Warwick Farm conditioner has a long term plan for Estadio Mestalla with the aim of gaining eligibility for the Big or Little Dance via upcoming country cups.
'We will probably look at something like Coffs (Harbour Cup) to give him his chance to get to the Big or Little Dance,' he said.
'He was in the Little Dance last year and ran second so it seems like a nice goal for him to try and line-up on Melbourne Cup day there again this year.'
Pride's stable has dominated the winter feature sprint circuit in Sydney with In Flight claiming the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes and Headley Grange scoring in the Listed Civic Stakes last month.
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