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By Ray Hickson

It’s the time Easy Eddie ran and not the opposition he beat last start that tells trainer Joe Pride his lightly raced three-year-old could be destined for better things.

And Pride may well set Easy Eddie for better things if he can handle the step to Saturday grade in the ATC Owners Benefit Card Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill.

The gelding only accounted for two rivals in scoring his second win at start four at Canterbury on November 1 but Pride said a time comparison suggests his win was above average.

"If you line it up against the two 1100m races on the day, benchmark races, he ran faster times than both of them and faster last 600s,’’ Pride said.

“I think there was merit in the win even though it was a small field. It’s a tougher test but he’s on the up.’’

Easy Eddie does it easily at Canterbury - November 1

Easy Eddie ran 1:04.32 for the 1100m against his own age while later in the day older horses Satirical Magic ran 1:04.65 and Lady Dane clocked 1:04.58.

Pride said he’ll be sending Easy Eddie, the $3.80 favourite as at Friday morning, for a spell after Saturday’s race and would be happy to aim up during the carnival if he goes out a winner.

“I’d be guided by how he goes. If he can win he will probably end up being a black type horse,’’ he said.

“The autumn carnival is there and we’ll see what we can do.’’

Recent Pride recruit Tactical Advantage has his second start for the stable in the Boxing Day at Royal Randwick Sprint (1100m) and will do so with blinkers on.

The talented four-year-old resumed with a third under 60.5kg at Randwick three weeks ago and Pride said he will take benefit from the run.

“The way he came out of it I think he needed it,’’ he said.

Tactical Advantage will have blinkers on for his second run back at Rosehill. (Pic: Steve Hart).

“He’s done really well since, 1100m is perfect, inside draw is nice and blinkers on. I think they will work well on him and I think he is going to be very hard to beat.’’

Punters Intel data showed Tactical Advantage sprinted sharply from the 400-200m in 11.02 then knocked up in the run home running 12.12.

It’s now a year since the last time New Tipperary passed the post in first place as the gelding steps out to defend his November Topaz (1900m) title.

New Tipperary ($5 TAB) was nailed in the last couple of strides by Black On Gold, who he meets 2kg better on Saturday, at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The bigger problem could be boom Godolphin galloper Interlocuter, the $1.80 favourite, but Pride said his horse is at the top of his game.

“We’re very hopeful he can get back into the winner’s circle, to state the obvious,’’ he said.

“He’s done well, he’s going to appreciate a little bit further again.

“Like it is for any horse once they get up close to their mark he needs things to go his way.’’

Pride has three other runners at Rosehill in O’Reilly Cyrus (race 2), Gamblestown (race 5) and So Spirited (race 8) and can sum them up in a couple of sentences.

“They are going there in good form and are a chance in their grade. They aren’t better than their opposition but if the get a bit of luck they can be in the finish,’’ he said.

Check out the fields and form for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday