A return to his home track of Randwick is a significant boost for smart sprinter With Your Blessing, who is bidding to make the most of the heavy conditions when he chases a maiden Group win in the Missile Stakes.
Trainer John Thompson gave the gelding’s first-up fifth to Saturday’s rival Romeo’s Choice a pass mark but admitted he had been expecting better based on With Your Blessing’s work at home.
Thompson has taken solace in the horse’s average record at Rosehill, which pales in comparison to his statistics at Randwick.
With Your Blessing has raced at the western Sydney course eight time for two placings, while he has been to Randwick on 12 occasions for three wins and five minors.
“He was going well into it. For some reason, he just doesn’t go as good at Rosehill as what he does at Randwick,” Thompson said.
“He’s had eight starts there and has barely run a place and he’s the most consistent horse. He tries. It’s a bit weird.”
While Thompson was a little underwhelmed by the horse’s return, With Your Blessing was only beaten two lengths on a soft 5 surface and is set to relish the testing conditions predicted for Saturday.
Randwick was a heavy 8 on Friday with more rain forecast and arguably the horse’s best win came in similar conditions at The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange two years ago.
“It was a terrific win that day. He brained them,” Thompson said.
“He is going well. Back to Randwick. He handles the wet. Up to 1200, perfect. He’s got a good draw and he hasn’t missed a beat. He has come on from the run.”
“He will be up on the speed out of trouble too, that will probably help on Saturday.”
Thompson has withdrawn Opal Fields from the Midway Handicap (1100m) due to the heavy track, while he’d prefer an improving surface for Bundeena but is leaning towards running him in the Ranvet Handicap (1000m) regardless.
“He is better on soft but he’s a horse that tries so hard,” he said.
“He will run well again because he’s going super.”
