CHANGE OF STABLES FOR TERRITORY EXPRESS

LAST year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Territory Express has changed stables.

The $1m plus earner will now be trained at Warwick Farm by Joe Pride.

Territory Express’ former trainer Paul Niceforo this morning confirmed the switch.

The six-year-old gelding’s barrier woes continued at his last run when he stood flatfooted and lost considerable ground in the $2m Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 13.

RacingNSW stewards subsequently asked connections to provide submissions in regard to Territory Express refusing to jump, and why any future nomination to race should not be refused given his history of missing the start.

“The gelding’s breeders made the decision to transfer the horse to Joe Pride, and I wish them all the best,” Niceforo said this morning.

“We have tried everything with Territory Express.

“Hopefully a change of scenery will help him turn things around and show the ability we know he has.”

Under Niceforo’s care, Territory Express raced 25 times for four wins and seven placings, earning prizemoney of just over $1.163m.

He won a 1400m Qualifier of last year’s PMC series at Kembla Grange before being narrowly beaten by Democracy Manifest in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Territory Express would have gained a “free ticket” into the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick had he won the Ajax.

Connections then set their sights on the $1m PMC Final (1400m) there, and as a $4.40 favorite the gelding overpowered his rivals in defeating Strait Acer and Shadows Of Love.

Zac Lloyd rode the gelding in all three races.

Whilst Territory Express hasn’t won since the PMC Final, he was placed at Group 3 level in Brisbane, along with the $1m Listed Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick, and more recently the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on November 8 at the beginning of this preparation.

Whilst Niceforo no longer has Territory Express, he is looking forward to kicking off the new year at Canterbury tomorrow with a debutante.

Supido Secret (apprentice William Stanley) contests the Maiden Plate (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.

“She is a homebred, and the only horse I have in work at present,” Niceforo said.

“I scratched her the other day when she didn’t draw well, and she has drawn poorly again tomorrow.

“However, there is no option but to get her going.

“Supido Secret goes okay, but is the most inexperienced filly in the race with only the one trial.”

Supido Secret is the first foal of her dam Spring Secret, whom Niceforo prepared for her 10-start career, which yielded a Muswellbook Maiden (1500m) breakthrough in October 2020, and three placings.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 31, 2025 - BRADLEY PHOTOS