Weight relief for old stayer
EVERGREEN stayer Destiny’s Kiss carries his lightest handicap for 18 months in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick tomorrow.
Destiny’s Kiss, diminutive in stature but big on heart, is regularly burdened with 60kg or more in his races so he won’t know himself with only 55.5kg for the 2400m feature race.
The nine-year-old has been racing with a new lease of life this year and presented a compelling case to trainer Joe Pride to give him another chance at Group 1 level in The Metropolitan tomorrow.
“The old horse has been in such great nick and his form has been so good I could not find a reason not to run him,’’ Pride said.
Destiny’s Kiss won the Wyong Cup under 59kg two starts back before closing late for fifth to Broadside in the Newcastle Gold Cup carrying the same weight.
Owned by Nick Moraitis of Might And Power fame, Destiny’s Kiss has won 16 of his 72 starts, including seven feature cups, amassing more than $1.1 million prizemoney.
“He is racing so well at the moment he deserves another crack at a Group 1,’’ Pride said.
“If he runs well (tomorrow) then we will go to the St Leger on Everest Day.’’
Destiny’s Kiss can ride on the surging form of the Pride stable in The Metropolitan. The trainer has prepared six winners from his last eight runners including Passage Of Time at Rosehill midweek.
Pride is also enthusiastic about the chances of speedy Ball Of Muscle in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Ball Of Muscle, a halfbrother to Pride’s top sprinter Terravista, resumed with a very good second to The Everest contender Redzel in The Shorts two weeks ago.
This was Ball Of Muscle’s best effort for some time and gives Pride reason to believe the sprinter can snap a losing streak that stretches nearly two years.
“I’ve finally got Ball Of Muscle’s feet right this spring, he trialled brilliantly and ran right up to that in The Shorts,’’ Pride said.
“He is the short of horse that improves with racing, the deeper he gets into a preparation the better he goes. He is very different in a lot of ways to Terravista.
“I’m very happy with Ball Of Muscle he is going to give them something to chase in the Premiere Stakes.’’
Ball Of Muscle is rated at $10 by UBET for the Premiere Stakes which is shaping as a “mini Everest” with champion sprinter Chautauqua the favourite at $3.20 ahead of English at $5.