Joe Pride is confident Accredited can deliver a very different performance when he steps out at Eagle Farm on Saturday, recalling that the gelding’s only previous interstate run was well below expectations.

The six-year-old resumes travelling duties in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1300m), and Pride believes the Sandown effort can be forgiven.

“It was at Sandown. It’s a difficult course for Sydney horses to go to first time the Melbourne way, and I’m hoping that was the problem,” Pride said.

“He came back from there and raced well, so I’m thinking it was more something that happened on the day.”

Accredited’s recent form suggests he is trending the right way, having placed behind Estadio Mestalla and Coal Crusher before finishing fourth to The Ingham hero Yorkshire.

The Festival Stakes run also convinced Pride that the horse’s best work sits under 1400 metres.

“The Festival showed me everything I needed to know about the horse … he will be restricted to 1400 and below for the rest of his life,” he said.

“He didn’t run the 1500 out strongly enough, so the 1300 should be ideal for him.”

Pride believes the form lines stack up neatly for a Brisbane assignment.

“They’re all the right form lines to go up there,” he said. “He does have to take on Rothfire, but he looks well placed to do that and I’m really happy with the horse.”

With The Black Cloud winning at Eagle Farm last weekend and Private Eye narrowly denied at Pakenham, Pride has no hesitation travelling runners when the placement fits.

“You’ve got to go where you can find the races you can win,” he said.

See betting updates for Accredited’s Queensland debut at leading Australian bookmakers.