The Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle will be a litmus test for Sophistication with trainer Joe Pride to gauge the gelding's autumn carnival future on his performance at Newcastle on Wednesday.As well as being entered in the Group Three feature, Sophistication was nominated for Randwick on Thursday and Caulfield on Saturday."He'll run at Newcastle, I nominated him for Randwick and a couple of races at Caulfield just to cover all the options," Pride said."But we decided to throw him in the deep end
The Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle will be a litmus test for Sophistication with trainer Joe Pride to gauge the gelding's autumn carnival future on his performance at Newcastle on Wednesday.
As well as being entered in the Group Three feature, Sophistication was nominated for Randwick on Thursday and Caulfield on Saturday.
"He'll run at Newcastle, I nominated him for Randwick and a couple of races at Caulfield just to cover all the options," Pride said.
"But we decided to throw him in the deep end at Newcastle and that will give us a guide to where we are going with him.
"If he's not up that class then we can give him a short break and race him through the winter."
The six-year-old is coming back to 1400 metres from 1600 at his most recent start at Warwick Farm last Saturday week when he ran second to Albertinelli.
He won his two previous starts and regular partner, apprentice Tommy Berry, retains the ride in the Newmarket.
"Tommy rides him really well and from the good barrier (4) he should be able to get into a good position," Pride said.
Last year's Newmarket was won by Solo Flyer who went on to take out the Ajax Stakes before running ninth in the Doncaster Mile won by the Pride-trained Vision And Power.
Like Vision And Power, Sophistication is owned by Nick Moraitis and races in the grey, pink and white colours made famous by Might And Power.
Vision And Power is entered for Saturday's Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill but Pride says he will not run if the track is dry.
"I'll look at the forecast but if there's no rain it's a waste of time," Pride said.
"I've also got him in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday and he can run there to keep him ticking over."
The Newcastle meeting also features the Racecallers Country Cup (1200m) with the Bob Milligan-trained Lady Game the early favourite at $4.60.
Racecallers from around the country have been invited to the meeting led by Sky's number one caller in Sydney Matthew Hill who will call the Newmarket while the other invitees will broadcast the support races.