Trainer Les Kelly will role the dice one last time with Skating On Ice this campaign ahead of a long-range bid for Group One glory during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Skating On Ice will make her sixth attempt to win a black-type race in Saturday’s Listed Channel Seven Nudgee Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.
Kelly’s confidence in the four-year-old going out a winner has been dented by a heavy 10 track rating following the deluge of rain in Brisbane this week.
“She’s finally drawn a decent barrier in one but I’d have been more confident on top of the ground,” Kelly said.
“Nuptse is the one to beat but my mare has an advantage having won over 1400 metres because on a heavy track, this race is going to be more like a 1400-metre race.
“This is definitely her last race before she goes to the paddock to prepare for the winter races.”
Kelly has pencilled in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m), formerly Winter Stakes, at Eagle Farm in June as the mare’s prime winter target.
“I’m not ruling out the Stradbroke but she’ll have to be going really well at the time to attempt it,” Kelly said.
“I think she’s probably just below Stradbroke grade and she’s a four-year-old.
“If she was three, the Stradbroke would definitely be in our sights as the fillies get a huge weight advantage in the Stradbroke.”
Skating On Ice will race in blinkers for the fourth consecutive time in Saturday’s feature but Kelly isn’t convinced the hood has made any great difference.
Jockey Glen Colless, who will ride the Brian Wakefield-trained Nuptse, recommended the gear change after winning on Skating On Ice at Doomben in late November.
The mare was second to Dual Chamber in the Listed Just Now Quality at her first run with blinkers in mid-December before finishing fifth to Spirit Of Boom in the Listed Goldmarket (1300m) on January 2.
Skating On Ice then dropped sharply in grade to win a class six 1400m race at the Gold Coast on January 7.
“She copped a bit of interference on the home turn and was taken off the track in the Goldmarket,” Kelly said.
“I don’t think she would have beaten the winner but she should have run a place in the Goldmarket.
“She dropped down in class when she won last start but she raced wide that day and it was a good win.”
Brad Stewart, who rode Skating On Ice in the Goldmarket, will be back aboard on Saturday after apprentice Mitchell Wood won on her last start.
AAP TURF
