Thirteen years after John Size moved to Hong Kong, Joe Pride is still channelling his mentor.

The Warwick Farm trainer had entered Rock Sturdy for two races at Randwick on Saturday including the Group Two Tramway Stakes.

Struggling to find a jockey for the feature, he recalled some words of wisdom from Size that convinced him to run in the TAB Rewards Handicap.

“I couldn’t get a jockey (for the Tramway),” Pride said.

“Something John Size said to me before he left for Hong Kong was `when you can’t get a jock, you can’t win the race’. The jocks are telling you that.

“I was able to keep Hughie (Bowman) on him for the other race so it became a no-brainer.”

Placed in the Carbine Club Stakes during the autumn, Rock Sturdy has posted successive wins at his past two starts to emerge as an Epsom Handicap wildcard.

He is favourite for Saturday’s 1400-metre assignment while Pride still has second pick and last-start Warwick Stakes winner Tiger Tees in the Tramway.

But if he is nervous about the prospects of that pair, it is nothing compared to the angst being caused by the return of Rain Affair.

The four-time Group One placegetter resumes in the Concorde Stakes looking to resurrect a career that has faltered.

Pride says the seven-year-old is showing all the right signs but needs to deliver at Randwick to confirm he still wants to be a racehorse.

“I’m terrified because I just want his career to continue. I love this horse but he needs to run well for that to happen,” Pride said.

“I’ve been really pleased with him but the truth is going to come on Saturday.”