Joe Pride will set Hawkebsury winner Tamarack on a winter staying campaign as he prepares to welcome the best distance horse in his stable back to the races.
A 10-year-old, Destiny’s Kiss is twice the age of Tamarack who won first-up over 1500m on Saturday.
Destiny’s Kiss will also have a relatively short assignment for his first-up start with his trainer earmarking the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 10 for his return.
“I couldn’t be happier with Destiny’s Kiss,” Pride said.
“I’m thinking of the Scone Cup first-up. He is working well as he always does and doesn’t have an arthritic bone in his body.
“He is a wonderful little horse. He loves stable life and he loves his routine and he also loves winter tracks.
“He is showing no signs he doesn’t want to do it any more.”
Tamarack is raced by Proven Thoroughbreds and was bought out of New Zealand while Destiny’s Kiss is a home-bred for Nick Moraitis.
“I am not in the market for the overseas stayers who are getting harder to buy,” Pride said.
“I get most of mine from New Zealand.
“There are plenty of good races for Tamarack in the winter over 2000 and 2400 metres that are worth good money and maybe he can get to the two-mile race at Randwick.”
The two-mile race is the Stayers’ Cup, a race Destiny’s Kiss won in 2014.
Tamarack has won two races over 2400m but has yet to be tried over 3200m.
Destiny’s Kiss’ most recent win was in last year’s McKell Cup (2400m) and he was spelled after his third in the New Year’s Day Cup.
While he knows Destiny’s Kiss is coming to the end of his racing career, Pride believes he still has something to give.
“He will let me know when it’s time,” he said.
“And we will find him the best home. He will be a lovely show horse for someone.”
