Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman does not get to have too many starters in Group 1 contests.
Fortunate Kiss will be just his ninth runner at the highest level when she runs in the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Bowman was fortunate enough to prepare Begood Toya Mother to win the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield and Fortunate Kiss will be his first Group 1 runner in Adelaide.
“It’s not every day that you get to have a Group 1 runner, so you have to have a crack,” Bowman said.
“She was unlucky in the Thousand Guineas in the spring and hopefully we can have a bit of a change of luck this time around.”
Fortunate Kiss finished fifth to Yearning in that Group 1 contest and Saturday’s race will be the filly’s first run back at the highest level since.
A winner at Flemington three starts ago, Fortunate Kiss followed up with a fourth at The Valley on March 25 behind Daisies, an opponent on Saturday, before running fourth again, this time at Caulfield over 1600m on April 16.
The question Bowman has is whether Fortunate Kiss will run out the 2000m.
“In six months, I think I’ll be saying she’s a better 1400-metre, miler type, but being a three-year-old against her own age, own sex, it’s the right time to try,” Bowman said.
“There’s going to be a few that are going to be a query at the trip, so it’s the time to find out.
“I was probably a bit soft on her three weeks between runs leading into Caulfield.
“I thought I could get away with it, and we nearly did, she was beaten a half-length, but she just blew out in the last 200 metres.
“She’s had a couple of good weeks since, so it’s worthwhile having a shot.”
Fortunate Kiss will be ridden by Harry Coffey who landed his solitary Group 1 win when guiding Sopressa to victory in the 2018 edition of the Australasian Oaks.
