After two underwhelming performances this prep, trainer Joe Pride changed things up for Estadio Mestalla — and the gamble paid off in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

Pride was perplexed by the gelding’s early form and opted to make two key adjustments: blinkers and a front-running strategy. Both worked perfectly as Estadio Mestalla surged to an upset victory, defeating Robusto and Accredited with ease.

“He has been very disappointing at his first two runs back and I have honestly been scratching my head because he is a very genuine and very honest horse,” Pride said.

“I went a little bit early with the blinkers than what I normally would in a preparation but I felt like I had to do something and make a change.”

“It was fantastic. It was good to see him out there rolling along and he looked happy and comfortable and gave a really big kick.”

Sent out at $61, Estadio Mestalla held a 1-1/2 length margin over Robusto ($13) with Accredited ($5.50) a further length behind.

Pride had seen signs the gelding was returning to form pre-race. “He took off a bit on the rider going to the gates and I thought, ‘this is better’.”

“We paid $70,000 for this horse off Chris Waller and he has been a great money-spinner.”

Dylan Gibbons rode Estadio Mestalla to victory as part of a treble, earlier winning aboard Good Banter and later scoring on Brave One.

“With a million owners too, I didn’t want to be the most hated man at Rosehill so I had to get him home,” Gibbons laughed.

TRL’s Terry Kennedy was thrilled by the result. “This horse just got nosed out in the Little Dance but for the NSW Tycoons, this is up there with our biggest wins.”

“We will try to qualify this horse for the Little Dance again and try to win it this time.”

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