John SchellJuly 18, 2026 — 5:00pmWarwick Farm trainer Joseph Pride will send three runners to Hawkesbury on Sunday with high hopes of success with two first starters and a stable veteran with an outstanding place strike-rate.Pride had a big team engaged at Rosehill on Saturday and will back that up when starting three-year-old Shamus Award gelding Real McCoy in the Essential Asset & Fire C,G&E Maiden Plate (1100m) with Jay Ford taking the ride.Trainer Joe Pride.Getty ImagesReal McCoy will race in the Proven Thoroughbred colours and has had five barrier trials since January this year in preparation for his debut performance.“He’s had a good, solid grounding leading into his first appearance at the races,” said Pride.“He had three trials back in January and February and then we tipped him out. He’s had another two recent trials in June and then earlier this month and he’s ready to go now.“The big track at Hawkesbury should suit him and it looks a race on Sunday that he can be competitive in.”Pride and Ford will combine again when the second of the stable first starters, Magic Kaya, contests The Sheilas Punters Club F&M Maiden Plate (1100m).A three-year-old filly by Maurica and out of former talented galloper Kneeling, Magic Kaya has also had a number of trials leading into her debut, in which she as to contend with an outside barrier.“She had two trials late last year before having a break and has come back and had another two recent hitouts to get her ready for Sunday,” Pride said.“She went down narrowly when second in the latest of them at Warwick Farm and Jay has been riding her, so he has a good feel for her.”Pride’s third runner at Hawkesbury will be The Replicant, which Chad Schofield will partner in the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).The Replicant has finished 10th in his last two runs, including a latest effort behind Dusty Bay at Warwick Farm last Wednesday when beaten just over four lengths.“He has five wins and 25 placings from 53 starts and will find Sunday’s race easier than what he’s been up against of late,” said Pride.Supplied by Racing NSWFrom our partners