Joe shows pride in veteran’s bulldog spirit

DESTINY’S Kiss is aiming for his 18th career win and a 10th feature cup trophy for owner Nick Moraitis’s mantelpiece when he contests the Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick today.

But it is not Destiny’s Kiss’s many impressive wins that trainer Joe Pride admires most, but paradoxically, the number of second placings the gelding has run in his 76-start career.

“The ‘stat’ I like better than his 17 wins is his five second placings,’’ Pride said.

“This tells me if he gets close enough, he just wins. He refuses to run second.’’

Destiny’s Kiss, a nine-yearold gelding, is rated at $13 to win the $150,000 Summer Cup (2000m). Black On Gold and Mighty Lucky are the $5 joint favourites.

Pride said Destiny’s Kiss has taken improvement from his down-the-track Villiers Stakes run, his first since taking out the City Tattersall’s Cup two months ago.

“The Villiers Stakes (1600m) was too short for him, he doesn’t get wound up until the gets to 2000m,’’ Pride said.

“I think his next run will be better again but if there is some rain around then it brings him right into the race.

“If we get a soft 5 or worse (today) then it is game on.’’

Destiny’s Kiss is contesting his third Summer Cup today, having run third to I’m Imposing in 2013 and sixth behind Red Excitement last year.

He is burdened with 59kg, a handicap that has proved beyond every Summer Cup winner this century with the exception of I’m Imposing, who had the same weight when he scored in 2014.