Racing: New memento for Pride

SYDNEY - Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake is set to bolster Joe Pride's in-form Sydney team when she arrives from Matamata next month.

Pride said the mare's owners had contacted him to take on the mare and he is looking forward to welcoming the group one winner to his stable.

"I'm hoping that I am for these horses from interstate or overseas seen as a bit of a go-to trainer, and it's good to have picked her up out of the blue.

"I'm more than happy to be taking her on."

Miss Keepsake, who races as My Keepsake in New Zealand, she has won four of her 11 starts, with three of her wins coming in Australia for trainer Andrew Scott.

The daughter of Keeper had won twice at the Sunshine Coast leading into the Oaks and also finished third to another filly Dariana in the Queensland Derby (2400m) a week after winning the fillies' classic.

Pride said the mare was likely to be set for a Sydney Cup-type preparation.

"It's lovely to get her. I think I've shown it's a bit of a strength of the stable's to get these mares and rejuvenate them, not that she needs much rejuvenating because she's already a good filly," he said.

"I'm hoping under my care and under Australian conditions she can go pretty good."

Miss Keepsake has had three unplaced runs in New Zealand since the Brisbane winter carnival.

Pride has finished fourth in the past two Sydney trainers' premierships and is holding the same position this term with 22 winners, including a double at Rosehill on Saturday.

- AAP