Up-and-coming stayer Sense Of Occasion is the early favourite for the WJ McKell Cup, but trainer Joe Pride finds it hard to put him above stablemate Destiny’s Kiss.
A dead-heat would be the best result for Pride in Saturday’s Listed race at Randwick.
The race will be the first time since Sense Of Occasion joined the Pride stable that he steps up to 2400m.
It is a distance much more familiar to Destiny’s Kiss who won the 2013 Winter Cup and ran second to La Amistad in last year’s McKell Cup before winning the Stayers’ Cup over 3200m.
“Sense Of Occasion is a horse on the way up and Destiny’s Kiss is proven at the distance,” Pride said.
“It will be wet which suits Destiny’s Kiss who loves soft tracks.
“Sense Of Occasion is also good on them so it’s hard to split the two of them.”
Sense Of Occasion was one of several horses to join Pride after the death of his fellow Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter a year ago while Destiny’s Kiss did his early racing in Melbourne under Robert Smerdon.
The TAB posted Sense Of Occasion at $4 on Wednesday ahead of Major Major at $4.80 and Destiny’s Kiss at $5.50.
Pride said he would weigh up options for the pair after Saturday.
“I wouldn’t rule out taking them to Brisbane for the Brisbane Cup,” he said.
“But we’ve got the Stayers’ Cup coming up over 3200 metres and I think that will suit them both as well.”
Sense Of Occasion and Destiny’s Kiss finished second and third respectively in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) on May 9 won by Silverball.
The McKell Cup field of 12 includes the 2012 Victoria Derby third placegetter Rawnaq from the David Hayes-Tom Dabernig stable.
A tendon injury stalled Rawnaq’s career shortly after the Derby and he has not lived up to expectations.
