The forecast for rain in Sydney in the days leading up to Easter has Joe Pride smiling ahead of Vision And Power's defence of the George Ryder Stakes.Michael Rodd will be aboard Vision And Power in both Saturday's Group One Ryder (1500m) and the Doncaster Mile two weeks later after Jim Cassidy opted to ride Black Piranha.Vision And Power has only been seen at the races twice this autumn with his trainer unwilling to run him on hard tracks.He has been kept ticking over with his normal trackwork r

The forecast for rain in Sydney in the days leading up to Easter has Joe Pride smiling ahead of Vision And Power's defence of the George Ryder Stakes.

Michael Rodd will be aboard Vision And Power in both Saturday's Group One Ryder (1500m) and the Doncaster Mile two weeks later after Jim Cassidy opted to ride Black Piranha.

Vision And Power has only been seen at the races twice this autumn with his trainer unwilling to run him on hard tracks.

He has been kept ticking over with his normal trackwork routine and a solid third in a barrier trial last Friday week.

"There are no concerns with his fitness levels," Pride said.

"I've kept him up to the mark and he went really well in the barrier trial.

"I've got no worries on that score.

"I just want him to have a softer surface, there's no point running him on firm tracks.

"Michael Rodd will ride and he has committed to both races."

Vision And Power had a six-start spring campaign on good tracks in Sydney and Melbourne with his best performance a Group One third in the Caulfield Stakes behind Whobegotyou and Heart Of Dreams.

After a chequered run in the Apollo Stakes first-up on February 20, Vision And Power ran 4-3/4 lengths eighth in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes won by Theseo.

Cassidy tested his new mount Black Piranha in the Canterbury Stakes on March 20 with last year's Stradbroke Handicap winner running home to finish second to popular mare Hot Danish.

Leading Horse of the Year contender Typhoon Tracy is expected to be nominated for both the George Ryder and the Group One Queen Of The Turf, also over 1500 metres.

The Peter Moody-trained mare claimed her first Group One victory over the Rosehill 1500 metres when she took out last year's Coolmore Classic as a three-year-old.

She has won another three Group One races since including the C F Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes at weight for age.

Sniper's Bullet, who ran third in the Futurity, tuned up for the George Ryder with a 1200m barrier trial win on Friday.

The much travelled six-year-old's career almost came to an abrupt end earlier this month when broke free while being loaded on to a horse float and ran into traffic near Warwick Farm.

He hit a car but escaped with scrapes and scratches and trainer Tracey Bartley decided to keep going with his autumn preparation.

Dual Group One winner Danleigh also appeared at Friday's trials where he ran fourth over 1050 metres as he also geared up for the Ryder.