Joe Pride knows it is the time of year when horses can earn a trip north with winning performances in Sydney and emerging three-year-old New Tipperary and the returning I Am Zelady fall into that category on Saturday.
The Queensland carnival offers the chance for riches at a time of year when Sydney racing remains tough but can't match the lure of black type in Brisbane.
I Am Zelady, winner of the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Stakes in January at her last start, will start the journey towards next month's group 1 Tatts Tiara from Randwick.
"She has won that $1 million race and now the next step [is] to get that black type, which I think she is up to," Pride said.
"The idea is to start here and work our way up to Brisbane provided she runs well. She has never started over 1100m before but if she can win an open class race in Sydney she will be very competitive in group races up there."
The Dane Ripper Stakes in a fortnight and the Tiara are part of a possible preparation for the mare, which has formed a good partnership with Tim Clark. He has been on her at her three barrier trials leading into Saturday.
"She is very fit and is at that level where she is going to be able to take on that stakes grade," Pride said. "Tim knows her very well and gets the best out of her and he has been pleased as well.
"I am really happy with her but obviously she will get better as she steps up in trip."
Ladbrokes have I Am Zelady a $4 second pick behind $2.80 favourite Inz'n'out for her return, while New Tipperary is a $5.50 equal favourite in the 2000m three-year-old race to continue his unbeaten preparation.
After winning his maiden at Wyong on Valentine's Day at his second start, New Tipperary was spelled and has won on the Beaumont track at Newcastle before accounting for older foes at Canterbury over 1580m and hinted the next trip will help.
"It is a race where nearly every horse is thinking win and go to Brisbane," Pride said. "If he was to win there are a couple of options for him up in Brisbane you would consider.
"When you look at the Sydney winners that are going up and winning in group races its shows how strong the racing is here.
"He has been very strong in his wins and he is improving with every run."
Another victory would open the possibility of a start in the Queensland Derby or Queensland Oaks in a couple of weeks.
Pride's team is rounded out with a trio of mares in the benchmark 74 over 1200m, Butterboom, last-start winner Trois Choix and Bonete.
"It is hard to split them and it is a good time of year for them to be going through their grades," Pride said.
