One trainer not unhappy to see a track in the soft range for the Sandown meeting is Warrnambool-based Maddie Raymond.
Provided the track remains in that soft range, Raymond will send Heart Of Puissance to Melbourne on Saturday to contest the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1800m).
As a back-up, Raymond also has Heart Of Puissance engaged over at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Saturday in the Thomas Farms Handicap (2000m).
If Heart Of Puissance runs at Sandown, leading apprentice Celine Gaudray is booked to ride while no rider has been engaged at Murray Bridge.
“I think he’s finally finding a bit of form,” Raymond said.
“He ran second last start. He’s going along really well, but he just needs some soft ground, which we haven’t had a lot of lately.
“So, if it doesn’t remain soft on Saturday, he could potentially head across to Adelaide.”
Heart Of Puissance is yet to win in seven starts for Raymond after starting his career with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
He was successful over 2500m at Flemington and ran second in a Warrnambool Cup before spending time on the sidelines and then joining Raymond’s Warrnambool base.
Heart Of Puissance will be lining up for the third start of his current campaign and is coming off a last start second to fellow Warrnambool galloper Picaroon in the Casterton Cup (2000m) on May 19, his best finishing position since joining Raymond.
He kick-started his campaign at Warrnambool over 1700m during the May Carnival, finishing ninth behind stablemate Rolls, before stepping out at Casterton last time out.
While coming back 200m in journey, Raymond said Saturday’s trip was ideal for Heart Of Puissance.
“It was 2000 metres last start and the 1800 metres at Sandown is pretty tough,” Raymond said.
“If there is cut in the ground, I think he’ll run up to his best.”
