A rain-affected track at Gosford is expected to play into the hands of smart mare Enchanted Heart as she bids for her first black-type win in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes.
The four-year-old is the only horse to have beaten up-and-coming sprint star Lost And Running, overpowering him to score a first-up win on a soft track at Canterbury last month.
However, she was no match for him when they clashed again at Randwick, a flop trainer Kris Lees put down to several factors, most notably the dry track.
“She was caught wide and the firm track, that was probably the bigger factor,” Lees said.
“But I’m really pleased with her and now she gets soft ground, I think that’s the key to her, finding the right tracks.
“It’s a good option for stakes company for her.”
With Gosford rated a heavy 8 on Friday, Enchanted Heart was on the third line of betting at $3.90 behind $2.80 favourite Signore Fox, who is a doubtful starter if track conditions don’t improve, and the Joe Pride-trained Easy Eddie ($3.30).
Lees’ focus is firmly on Saturday’s assignment and Enchanted Heart’s performance there will determine if she earns a spot on his winter carnival team for Brisbane.
“We’ve always thought she could make winter stakes grade and she looks like she’s found the right race to give her that opportunity,” Lees said.
Enchanted Heart has been nominated for the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane in the coming weeks.
