In-form Canberra-trained mare Sydney’s Destiny will be looking to emulate her last-start Melbourne success when she steps up in distance for The Cove Hotel Handicap at Sandown.
Trainer Matthew Dale floated the four-year-old back to Victoria on Monday night for Wednesday’s assignment with Craig Williams booked to ride her again.
“It looks a good race for her again,” Dale said.
“She’s building a nice record and obviously won at the track last start so she is a chance.
“She’s against the boys, up a half-kilo (to 57.5kg) and it looks like the extra 200 metres is going to suit her.”
Dale also had Sydney’s Destiny entered for Canterbury on Wednesday but when she was named second emergency and drew the outside barrier his decision to head back to Melbourne was an easy one.
A daughter of Dubai Destination, Sydney’s Destiny has won four of her six starts and is unbeaten in three runs this campaign.
After back-to-back wins in Canberra she beat the mares in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on February 8, scoring by a length from Amelia Rose.
Dale said if there was a concern for Sydney’s Destiny on Wednesday it could be the heavy (8) track at Sandown after rain in the last two days.
“She hasn’t raced on a wet track like that but she’s a genuine, progressive-running horse and they generally get through it,” Dale said.
“She’s raced on a slow track at Kensington in Sydney when it was quite chopped up and she got stuck on the inside and was only beaten three-quarters of a length so I think she will handle it.”
Dale has made successful Melbourne raids in the past, most notably with Jackpot Queen who won at Flemington and Caulfield last winter.
Earlier this month Unanimously also came to Melbourne and finished fourth to Bel Sprinter in the Listed Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
“We’ve always got the Melbourne calendar open and if there is a race at the right time we’re more than happy to head down,” Dale said.
AAP TURF
