Country trainer Russell Osborne is hoping to kill two birds with one stone when Pretty Possum runs at Caulfield.
Victory in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on Saturday would not only give Pretty Possum a much sought-after stakes win but also her first city success.
The rising seven-year-old has won eight of her 51 starts with a further 22 placings, but so far has come up empty handed in town.
“She’s won over $200,000 but hasn’t won a city race,” Osborne said.
“She’s had two goes at the Listed level before for a third and a fourth and we’ve run that many seconds in normal races in town, but it’s hard to find a race to go in.
“They haven’t got the open flyings in the country anymore, so it restricts you and you have to go to town.
“And going to town, you need everything in your favour.”
Osborne, who trains at Benalla, took Pretty Possum to Adelaide for her most recent start in which she finished third to Daytona Grey in the Listed Manihi Classic on April 9.
“I’ve been watching Adelaide a bit recently and I thought it had been a bit weak, but the weekend I went over it was stronger,” Osborne said.
“We weren’t far off the mark, we nearly got there.”
Osborne said Pretty Possum appreciated the tempo over 1100m despite being unable to break through in the city area.
“She’s probably a couple of lengths off Saturday grade but what else do you do,” Osborne said.
“We’re hitting and hoping.”
Saturday’s Listed race has attracted 29 nominations including the lightly-raced Supido, Tasmanian visitor Hellova Street and Godolphin galloper Java.
Bullpit, Cashed, Nozomi and Sheidel are among the 29 but also hold entries in Adelaide for the Group Three R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.
