Masai Pride gets at provincial sprints

Enigmatic sprinter Masai Pride has raced his way into contention for some of Brisbane's minor winter sprints.

Masai Pride won for only the second time in 12 months when he once again overcame his notorious bad start to down the Ray McCall-trained One Eyed by one length in the Ooh! Media Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

The five-year-old bungled the start by two lengths but was able to recover from the early setback to take up a forward position.

The rest was left up to Brad Pengelly who produced a masterful ride to steer Masai Pride into the clear in the straight when it appeared he looked hopelessly held up behind a wall of horses.

Trainer Bryan Guy has had his share of headaches with Masai Pride trying to coax the gelding back to his best and returned to a proven formula by adding blinkers to the sprinter's gear.

"This is the first time he's had blinkers on this campaign. I took them off because he's been missing the kick every time," Guy said.

"He still missed the kick but for some reason he just races best with the blinkers on.

"It's not unusual for him to wear them and in fact his whole family has raced best when they wore blinkers."

Guy is unsure where to head next with Masai Pride but will not head to the major Group One sprints, the Doomben 10,000 or Stradbroke Handicap.

"He might be a nice horse this time for the Glasshouse Handicap or even the Eye Liner," Guy said.

The $175,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) will be run at Caloundra on June 28, two weeks after the $175,000 Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich.

Masai Pride ran in both races last year finishing fifth, beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Mr Hornblower in the Eye Liner Stakes before a moderate 13th, beaten 3-1/2 lengths by Hard To Catch on a heavy track.

Pengelly was always confident Masai Pride would overcome his tardy start and was never concerned when forced to push his way into the clear from behind a wall of horses in the straight.

"I gave him two slaps with the whip in the barriers and he was ready but he still missed the start," Pengelly said.

"Coming to the home turn he was on the bit and was always travelling like he was going to win."