Earlier this month, Destiny’s Kiss was part of one of the most spectacular staying races in Sydney for a long time when he ran down Astro Avalanche to win over 3200 metres at Randwick.
Astro Avalanche had a lead of around 100 metres mid-race in the $100,000 Stayers Cup on June 7 and it took the length of the straight for Destiny’s Kiss to pick him up and go past to win by half a length.
With only six nominations taken on Monday for the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill, trainer Joe Pride is hoping there will be some late comers by Tuesday’s final deadline.
“We will have to wait and see if there are any more nominations. A bigger field would be better for him,” Pride said.
“The horse is in good order and I hope the handicapper gives him a break.
“He won the race last year and it would be great to see him do it again.”
Pride is also hoping for rain this week to give the Nick Moraitis-owned Destiny’s Kiss his preferred surface.
The weather will also determine the five-year-old’s future plans this winter.
“The Grafton Cup is still there but I don’t want to drag him up there to run on a dry track,” Pride said.
“The other option is to give him three weeks off and get him ready for the Newcastle Cup.”
Hoylonny, Mulaqen and Secessio are the three Winter Cup entrants from the Chris Waller stable with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Sir Bigglesworth and Ironstein the other two.
Ironstein is also nominated for the Caloundra Cup but trainer Gerald Ryan is leaning towards Sydney in the hope the track is firmer.
“The forecast is good and they tell me the track at the Sunshine Coast is not drying out,” Ryan said.
“He is booked to come home from Queensland on Wednesday so we’ve got until then to make a decision.”
The veteran stayer, the winner of the 2010 Caloundra Cup, is coming to the end of his career with Ryan eyeing the Grafton Cup as his likely swan song.