Super Easy gelding Easy Eddie highlighted his readiness for loftier targets on Monday when he won the Invictus Sprint (1100m) by nearly four lengths at Randwick's Kensington track.
"It was a good win," trainer Joe Pride said. "I had the feeling he would be better suited to a softer track and he sort of got that yesterday and we saw him race really well.
"He is a handy horse, he has been honest all throughout his career. I like him, he's a nice horse."
Pride has a strong link with Easy Eddie's sire Super Easy, having
trained his half-brothers Terravista, Tiger Tees and Ball of Muscle to multiple
stakes victories.
With his success with Super Easy's family, Pride kept tabs on the dual Singapore Horse of the Year when he went to stud in New Zealand.
Believing in the quality of his stock, Pride went to A$55,000 to secure Easy Eddie as a yearling and has shown his faith by retaining a share in the three-year-old gelding.
"It's always been an easy one for me, when we saw Super Easy go to stud, having trained Terravista, Tiger Tees and Ball of Muscle. I was always going to support the stallion in some way and I was interested in his stock," Pride said.
"There were only a few offered in Australia and he was in the Melbourne sale. He stood out to me as a nice individual and people weren't really interested in him because he was by a stallion they didn't know, and he wasn't BOBS eligible so I think we got him pretty cheap. He's been a good purchase.
"I've still got a few in the stable within that family in some way and I bought another two by Super Easy this year, so I will continue to support the stallion. I'm not doing it from an emotional point, I've got a good belief in the family and they have been very good to me."
Easy Eddie's win on Monday has extended the gelding's fine form of late, which includes two wins and two placings from his last four starts.
Pride believes a recent gear change and the softer tracks will assist Easy Eddie as he continues his winter campaign.
"He's a really nice horse, he's got a good quality about him and he always seems to do his best, which is good," Pride said.
"We have been tinkering with a few things in terms of gear and I think we have got it about right now having him in the blinkers and I just expect him to continue on improving.
"He'll probably go to a Saturday race on the 23rd over 1200m at Randwick. I would have thought that would suit him. This is a good time for him to be up, at the end of his three-year-old year on soft tracks."
His sire Super Easy now boasts a great strike-rate in Australia, with five winners from only six starters. He stands at Hallmark Stud near Te Kauwhata for a service fee of NZ$7,500 + GST. – NZ Racing Desk.
