The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable has elected to keep Storm Season in Melbourne for her return run.
Storm Season was an acceptor in the Petaluma Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, but the stable has elected to instead start the mare in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.
A lightly raced daughter of Toronado, Storm Season has not raced since early December when successful over 1500m at Caulfield Heath.
That victory followed a first-up success at Kembla Grange.
Kent Jnr said Storm Season had pulled up with a minor injury following her two-run summer campaign but had trialled well in preparation for her return.
The co-trainer conceded the heavy track conditions at Sandown were an unknown quantity for the mare who was placed on soft ground at Morphettville in May last year.
“She won both her starts last time in and then she pulled up with an injury after her Caulfield victory, so we gave her some time out,” Kent Jnr said.
“She’s come up really well and typically goes well fresh. She’s trialled well twice, she’s drawn to get the right run, off the speed and off the fence.
“The big unknown is it will be her first go on heavy ground and the race club is predicting anywhere from four to 15 mils of rain on race day.
“So, come the last (race), hopefully we avoid it. If they do get 15 mils of rain, that track might be pretty dire on Saturday, which could dent the confidence quite a bit, but if we miss a lot of it, then I think she’s a nice chance.
“Yes, she will improve for absolute race fitness, but she is a big mare that will enjoy that big track at Sandown.”
Apprentice Logan Bates rides Storm Season for the first time and will take 1.5kg off the mare’s weight, bringing her in with 57.5kg.
